Compound

ABSTRACT

A compound having Formula I 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein one of R 1  and R 2  is a group of the formula 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein R 4  is selected from H and hydrocarbyl, R 5  is a hydrocarbyl group and L is an optional linker group, or R 1  and R 2  together form a ring substituted with the group 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein R 3  is H or a substituent, and wherein X is selected from S, O, NR 6  and C(R 7 )(R 8 ), wherein R 6  is selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups, wherein each of R 7  and R 8  are independently selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups.

This non-provisional application claims benefit of priority of U.S.provisional application 60/436,635, filed Dec. 30, 2002, and U.K.application 0224830.0, filed Oct. 24, 2002, both of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a compound. In particular the presentinvention provides compounds capable of inhibiting 11β-hydroxysteroiddehydrogenase (11β-HSD).

INTRODUCTION The Role of Glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids are synthesised in the adrenal cortex from cholesterol.The principle glucocorticoid in the human body is cortisol, this hormoneis synthesised and secreted in response to the adrenocortictrophichormone (ACTH) from the pituitary gland in a circadian, episodic manner,but the secretion of this hormone can also be stimulated by stress,exercise and infection. Cortisol circulates mainly bound to transcortin(cortisol binding protein) or albumin and only a small fraction is free(5-10%) for biological processes [1].

Cortisol has a wide range of physiological effects, including regulationof carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism, regulation of normalgrowth and development, influence on cognitive function, resistance tostress and mineralocorticoid activity. Cortisol works in the oppositedirection compared to insulin meaning a stimulation of hepaticgluconeogenesis, inhibition of peripheral glucose uptake and increasedblood glucose concentration. Glucocorticoids are also essential in theregulation of the immune response. When circulating at higherconcentrations glucocorticoids are generally immunosuppressive and areused pharmacologically as anti-inflammatory agents.

Glucocorticoids like other steroid hormones are generally lipophilic andpenetrate the cell membrane freely. Cortisol binds, primarily, to theintracellular glucocorticoid receptor (GR) that then acts as atranscription factor to induce the expression of glucocorticoidresponsive genes, and as a result of that protein synthesis.

The role of the 11β-HSD Enzyme

The conversion of cortisol (F) to its inactive metabolite cortisone (E)by 11β-HSD was first described in the 1950's, however it was not untillater that a biological importance for this conversion was suggested[2]. In 1983 Krozowski et al. showed that the mineralocorticoid receptor(MR) has equal binding affinities for glucocorticoids andmineralocorticoids [3]. Because the circulating concentration ofcortisol is a 100 times higher than that of aldosterone and during timesof stress or high activity even more, it was not clear how the MRremained mineralocorticoid specific and was not constantly occupied byglucocorticoids. Earlier Ulick et al. [4] had described the hypertensivecondition known as, “apparent mineralocorticoid excess” (AME), andobserved that whilst secretion of aldosterone from the adrenals was infact low the peripheral metabolism of cortisol was disrupted. Thesediscoveries lead to the suggestion of a protective role for the enzymes.By converting cortisol to cortisone in mineralocorticoid dependenttissues 11β-HSD enzymes protects the MR from occupation byglucocorticoids and allows it to be mineralcorticoid specific.Aldosterone itself is protected from the enzyme by the presence of analdehyde group at the C-18 position.

Congenital defects in the 11β-HSD enzyme results in over occupation ofthe MR by cortisol and hypertensive and hypokalemic symptoms seen inAME.

Localisation of the 11β-HSD showed that the enzyme and its activity ishighly present in the MR dependent tissues, kidney and parotid. Howeverin tissues where the MR is not mineralocorticoid specific and isnormally occupied by glucocorticoids, 11 β-HSD is not present in thesetissues, for example in the heart and hippocampus [5]. This researchalso showed that inhibition of 11 β-HSD caused a loss of the aldosteronespecificity of the MR in these mineralocorticoid dependent tissues.

It has been shown that two iso-enzymes of 11 β-HSD exist. Both aremembers of the short chain alcohol dehydrogenase (SCAD) superfamilywhich have been widely conserved throughout evolution. 11 β-HSD type 2acts as a dehydrogenase to convert the secondary alcohol group at theC-11 position of cortisol to a secondary ketone, so producing the lessactive metabolite cortisone. 11 β-HSD type 1 is thought to act mainly invivo as a reductase, that is in the opposite direction to type 2 [6][see below]. 11 β-HSD type 1 and type 2 have only a 30% amino acidhomology.

The intracellular activity of cortisol is dependent on the concentrationof glucocorticoids and can be modified and independently controlledwithout involving the overall secretion and synthesis of the hormone.

The Role of 11 β-HSD Type 1

The direction of 11 β-HSD type 1 reaction in vivo is generally acceptedto be opposite to the dehydrogenation of type 2. In vivo homozygous micewith a disrupted type 1 gene are unable to convert cortisone tocortisol, giving further evidence for the reductive activity of theenzyme [7]. 11 β-HSD type 1 is expressed in many key glucocorticoidregulated tissues like the liver, pituitary, gonad, brain, adipose andadrenals, however, the function of the enzyme in many of these tissuesis poorly understood [8].

The concentration of cortisone in the body is higher than that ofcortisol, cortisone also binds poorly to binding globulins, makingcortisone many times more biologically available. Although cortisol issecreted by the adrenal cortex, there is a growing amount of evidencethat the intracellular conversion of E to F may be an importantmechanism in regulating the action of glucocorticoids [9].

It may be that 11 β-HSD type 1 allows certain tissues to convertcortisone to cortisol to increase local glucocorticoid activity andpotentiate adaptive response and counteracting the type 2 activity thatcould result in a fall in active glucocorticoids [10]. Potentiation ofthe stress response would be especially important in the brain and highlevels of 11 β-HSD type 1 are found around the hippocampus, furtherproving the role of the enzyme. 11 β-HSD type 1 also seems to play animportant role in hepatocyte maturation [8]. Another emerging role ofthe 11 β-HSD type 1 enzyme is in the detoxification process of manynon-steroidal carbonyl compounds, reduction of the carbonyl group ofmany toxic compounds is a common way to increase solubility andtherefore increase their excretion. The 11 β-HSD type 1 enzyme hasrecently been shown to be active in lung tissue [11]. Type 1 activity isnot seen until after birth, therefore mothers who smoke during pregnancyexpose their children to the harmful effects of tobacco before the childis able to metabolically detoxify this compound.

The Role of 11 β-HSD Type 2

As already stated earlier the 11 β-HSD type 2 converts cortisol tocortisone, thus protecting the MR in many key regulatory tissues of thebody. The importance of protecting the MR from occupation byglucocorticoids is seen in patients with AME or liquoriceintoxification. Defects or inactivity of the type 2 enzyme results inhypertensive syndromes and research has shown that patients with anhypertensive syndrome have an increased urinary excretion ratio ofcortisol:cortisone. This along with a reported increase in the half lifeof radiolabelled cortisol suggests a reduction of 11 β-HSD type 2activity [12].

Rationale for the Development of 11 β-HSD Inhibitors

As said earlier cortisol opposes the action of insulin meaning astimulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis, inhibition of peripheral glucoseuptake and increased blood glucose concentration. The effects ofcortisol appear to be enhanced in patients suffering from glucoseintolerance or diabetes mellitus. Inhibition of the enzyme 11 β-HSD type1 would increase glucose uptake and inhibit hepatic gluconeogenesis,giving a reduction in circulatory glucose levels. The development of apotent 11 β-HSD type 1 inhibitor could therefore have considerabletherapeutic potential for conditions associated with elevated bloodglucose levels.

An excess in glucocorticoids can result in neuronal dysfunctions andalso impair cognitive functions. A specific 11 β-HSD type 1 inhibitormight be of some importance by reducing neuronal dysfunctions and theloss of cognitive functions associated with ageing, by blocking theconversion of cortisone to cortisol.

Glucocorticoids also have an important role in regulating part of theimmune response [13]. Glucocorticoids can suppress the production ofcytokines and regulate the receptor levels. They are also involved indetermining whether T-helper (Th) lymphocytes progress into either Th1or Th2 phenotype. These two different types of Th cells secrete adifferent profile of cytokines, Th2 is predominant in a glucocorticoidenvironment. By inhibiting 11 β-HSD type 1, Th1 cytokine response wouldbe favoured. It is also possible to inhibit 11 β-HSD type 2, thus byinhibiting the inactivation of cortisol, it may be possible topotentiate the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids.

Some embodiments of the present invention are defined in the appendedclaims.

SUMMARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In one embodiment the present invention provides a compound havingFormula I

wherein one of R₁ and R₂ is a group of the formula

wherein R₄ is selected from H and hydrocarbyl, R₅ is a hydrocarbyl groupand L is an optional linker group,or R₁ and R₂ together form a ring substituted with the group

wherein R₃ is H or a substituent, and wherein X is selected from S, O,NR₆ and C(R₇)(R₈),wherein R₆ is selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups, wherein each of R₇and R₈ are independently selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising

(i) a compound having Formula I

wherein one of R₁ and R₂ is a group of the formula

wherein R₄ is selected from H and hydrocarbyl, R₆ is a hydrocarbyl groupand L is an optional linker group, or R₁ and R₂ together form a ringsubstituted with the group

wherein R₃ is H or a substituent, and wherein X is selected from S, O,NR₆ and C(R₇)(R₈),wherein R₆ is selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups, wherein each of R₇and R₈ are independently selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups.(ii) optionally admixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier,diluent, excipient or adjuvant.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a compound havingFormula I

wherein one of R₁ and R₂ is a group of the formula

wherein R₄ is selected from H and hydrocarbyl, R₅ is a hydrocarbyl groupand L is an optional linker group, or R₁ and R₂ together form a ringsubstituted with the group

wherein R₃ is H or a substituent, and wherein X is selected from S, O,NR_(B) and C(R₇)(R₈),wherein R₆ is selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups, wherein each of R₇and R₈ are independently selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups, for usein medicine.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a use of a compound inthe manufacture of a medicament for use in the therapy of a condition ordisease associated with 11β-HSD, wherein the compound has Formula I

wherein one of R₁ and R₂ is a group of the formula

wherein R₄ is selected from H and hydrocarbyl, R₅ is a hydrocarbyl groupand L is an optional linker group, or R₁ and R₂ together form a ringsubstituted with the group

wherein R₃ is H or a substituent, and wherein X is selected from S, O,NR₆ and C(R₇)(R₈),wherein R₆ is selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups, wherein each of R₇and R₈ are independently selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups.

SOME ADVANTAGES

One key advantage of the present invention is that the compounds of thepresent invention can act as 11β-HSD inhibitors. The compounds mayinhibit the interconversion of inactive 11-keto steroids with theiractive hydroxy equivalents. Thus present invention provides methods bywhich the conversion of the inactive to the active form may becontrolled, and to useful therapeutic effects which may be obtained as aresult of such control. More specifically, but not exclusively, theinvention is concerned with interconversion between cortisone andcortisol in humans.

Another advantage of the compounds of the present invention is that theymay be potent 11β-HSD inhibitors in vivo.

Some of the compounds of the present invention are also advantageous inthat they may be orally active.

The present invention may provide for a medicament for one or more of(i) regulation of carbohydrate metabolism, (ii) regulation of proteinmetabolism, (iii) regulation of lipid metabolism, (iv) regulation ofnormal growth and/or development, (v) influence on cognitive function,(vi) resistance to stress and mineralocorticoid activity.

Some of the compounds of the present invention may also be useful forinhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis. The present invention may alsoprovide a medicament to relieve the effects of endogenousglucocorticoids in diabetes mellitus, obesity (including centripetalobesity), neuronal loss and/or the cognitive impairment of old age.Thus, in a further embodiment, the invention provides the use of aninhibitor of 11β-HSD in the manufacture of a medicament for producingone or more therapeutic effects in a patient to whom the medicament isadministered, said therapeutic effects selected from inhibition ofhepatic gluconeogenesis, an increase in insulin sensitivity in adiposetissue and muscle, and the prevention of or reduction in neuronalloss/cognitive impairment due to glucocorticoid-potentiatedneurotoxicity or neural dysfunction or damage.

From an alternative point of view, the invention provides a method oftreatment of a human or animal patient suffering from a conditionselected from the group consisting of: hepatic insulin resistance,adipose tissue insulin resistance, muscle insulin resistance, neuronalloss or dysfunction due to glucocorticoid potentiated neurotoxicity, andany combination of the aforementioned conditions, the method comprisingthe step of administering to said patient a composition comprising apharmaceutically active amount of a compound in accordance with thepresent invention.

Some of the compounds of the present invention may be useful for thetreatment of cancer, such as breast cancer, as well as (or in thealternative) non-malignant conditions, such as the prevention ofauto-immune diseases, particularly when pharmaceuticals may need to beadministered from an early age.

DETAILED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In one embodiment the present invention provides a compound havingFormula I

wherein one of R₁ and R₂ is a group of the formula

wherein R₄ is selected from H and hydrocarbyl, R₅ is a hydrocarbyl groupand L is an optional linker group, or R₁ and R₂ together form a ringsubstituted with the group

wherein R₃ is H or a substituent, and wherein X is selected from S, O,NR₆ and C(R₇)(R₈),wherein R₆ is selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups, wherein each of R₇and R₈ are independently selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising

(i) a compound having Formula I defined above(ii) optionally admixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier,diluent, excipient or adjuvant.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a compound havingFormula I defined above, for use in medicine.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a use of a compoundhaving Formula I defined above in the manufacture of a medicament foruse in the therapy of a condition or disease associated with 11β-HSD.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a use of a compoundhaving Formula I defined above in the manufacture of a medicament foruse in the therapy of a condition or disease associated with adverse11β-HSD levels.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a use of a compoundhaving Formula I defined above in the manufacture of a pharmaceuticalfor inhibiting 11β-HSD activity.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a use of a compoundhaving Formula I defined above in the manufacture of a pharmaceuticalfor inhibiting 11β-HSD activity.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a method comprising (a)performing a 11β-HSD assay with one or more candidate compounds havingFormula I defined above; (b) determining whether one or more of saidcandidate compounds is/are capable of modulating 11β-HSD activity; and(c) selecting one or more of said candidate compounds that is/arecapable of modulating 11β-HSD activity.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a method comprising (a)performing a 11β-HSD assay with one or more candidate compounds havingFormula I defined above; (b) determining whether one or more of saidcandidate compounds is/are capable of inhibiting 11β-HSD activity; and(c) selecting one or more of said candidate compounds that is/arecapable of inhibiting 11β-HSD activity.

In one embodiment the present invention provides

-   -   a compound identified by the above method,    -   the use of the said compound in medicine,    -   a pharmaceutical composition comprising the said compound,        optionally admixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier,        diluent, excipient or adjuvant,    -   use of the said compound in the manufacture of a medicament for        use in the therapy of a condition or disease associated with        11β-HSD, and    -   use of the said compound in the manufacture of a medicament for        use in the therapy of a condition or disease associated with        adverse 11β-HSD levels.

For ease of reference, these and further embodiments of the presentinvention are now discussed under appropriate section headings. However,the teachings under each section are not necessarily limited to eachparticular section.

Exemplary Embodiments

In one embodiment of the present invention the compound has Formula II

In some embodiments of the present invention L is not present. In thisembodiment the present invention provides a compound having Formula I

wherein one of R₁ and R₂ is a group of the formula

wherein R₄ is selected from H and hydrocarbyl, and R₅ is a hydrocarbylgroup; or R₁ and R₂ together form a ring substituted with the group

wherein R₃ is H or a substituent

In another embodiment of the present invention R₁ and R₂ together form aring substituted with the group

In one embodiment of the present invention R₁ and R₂ together form acarbocyclic ring.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention R₁ and R₂ togetherform a six membered ring.

In other embodiments of the present invention R₁ and R₂ together form asix membered carbocyclic ring.

In one embodiment of the present invention wherein R₁ and R₂ togetherform an aryl ring.

Exemplary compounds of the present invention are those having one of thefollowing formulae.

In some embodiments of the present invention R₃ is selected from H,hydrocarbyl, —S-hydrocarbyl, —S—H, halogen and N(R₉)(R₁₀), wherein eachof R₉ and R₁₀ are independently selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups.

In other embodiments of the present invention R₃ is selected from H,hydroxy, alkyl especially C₁-C₁₀ alkyl groups, C₁-C₆ alkyl, e.g. C₁-C₃alkyl group, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl,tert-butyl, n-pentyl and other pentyl isomers, and n-hexyl and otherhexyl isomers, alkoxy especially C₁-C₁₀ alkoxy groups, C₁-C₆ alkoxy,e.g. C₁-C₃ alkoxy group, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy etc., alkinyl, e.g.ethinyl, or halogen, e.g. fluoro substituents.

When R3 is —S-hydrocarbyl, R3 may be, for example, selected from—S-alkyl, —S-carboxylic acid, —S-ether, and —S-amide, for exampleselected from —S—C₁₋₁₀alkyl, —S—C₁₋₁₀-carboxcylic acid, —S—C₁₋₁₀ether,and —S—C₁₋₁₀amide.

In one embodiment of the present invention R₃ is —CH₃.

Further embodiments of the present invention are those having one of thefollowing formulae.

In further embodiments of the present invention, such as when thecompound has Formula Ia, Formula VIII, Formula IX, Formula X, FormulaXa, Formula XI, or Formula XIa, R₃ is selected from O, hydrocarbyl, andN(R₉) wherein R₉ is selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups. OptionallyR₃ is selected from O, C₁-C₁₀ alkenyl groups, such as C₁-C₆ alkenylgroup, and C₁-C₃ alkenyl group, NH and N—C₁-C₁₀ alkyl groups, such asN—C₁-C₆ alkyl group, and N—C₁-C₃ alkyl groups.

In further embodiments of the present invention R₄ is selected from Hand C₁-C₁₀ alkyl groups, such as C₁-C₆ alkyl group, and C₁-C₃ alkylgroup. In one embodiment, R₄ is H.

In yet further embodiments of the present invention R₄ is a group of theformula.

In these embodiments the group shown above as

may be of the formula

wherein each R₅ is independently selected from hydrocarbyl groups. EachR₅ may be the same of different to the other R₅. In one embodiment thetwo R₅ groups are the same.

In some embodiments of the invention R₅ is a cyclic hydrocarbyl group.For example, R₅ may be a cyclic hydrocarbyl group comprising ahydrocarbon ring.

R₅ may be a substituted ring or an unsubstituted ring. In someembodiments of the invention R₅ is substituted ring.

R₅ may be a carbocyclic ring.

R₅ may be a six membered ring.

R₅ may be a six membered carbocyclic ring. For example, R₅ may be asubstituted six membered carbocyclic ring.

In some embodiments of the invention R₅ is an aryl ring. For example, R₅is a substituted aryl ring.

In one embodiment R₅ is a group having the formula

wherein each of R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄ and R₁₅ are independently selectedfrom H, halogen, and hydrocarbyl groups.

For example, each of R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄ and R₁₅ may be independentlyselected from H, halogen, alkyl, such as C₁₋₆ alkyl, phenyl, O-alkyl,O-phenyl, nitrile, haloalkyl, such as CF₃, CCl₃ and CBr₃, carboxyalkyl,—CO₂H, CO₂alkyl, and NH-acetyl groups.

Two or more of R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄ and R₁₅ may join to form a ring. Thetwo or more of R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄ and R₁₅ may or may not be adjacent.The ring may be carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring. The ring may beoptionally substituted by any of the R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄ and R₁₅substituents listed above. When two or more of R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄ andR₁₅ may join to form a ring the group

may provide a naphthyl, quinolyl, tetrahydroquinolyl, orbenzotetrahydropyranyl, each of which may be substituted orunsubstituted.

Substituents

The compound of the present invention may have substituents other thanthose of the ring systems show herein. Furthermore the ring systemsherein are given as general formulae and should be interpreted as such.The absence of any specifically shown substituents on a given ringmember indicates that the ring member may substituted with any moiety ofwhich H is only one example. The ring system may contain one or moredegrees of unsaturation, for example is some embodiments one or morerings of the ring system are aromatic. The ring system may becarbocyclic or may contain one or more hetero atoms.

The compound of the invention, in particular the ring system compound ofthe invention of the present invention may contain substituents otherthan those show herein. By way of example, these other substituents maybe one or more of: one or more halo groups, one or more O groups, one ormore hydroxy groups, one or more amino groups, one or more sulphurcontaining group(s), one or more hydrocarbyl group(s)—such as anoxyhydrocarbyl group.

In general terms the ring system of the present compounds may contain avariety of non-interfering substituents. In particular, the ring systemmay contain one or more hydroxy, alkyl especially lower (C₁-C₆) alkyl,e.g. methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl,n-pentyl and other pentyl isomers, and n-hexyl and other hexyl isomers,alkoxy especially lower (C₁-C₆) alkoxy, e.g. methoxy, ethoxy, propoxyetc., alkinyl, e.g. ethinyl, or halogen, e.g. fluoro substituents.

For some compounds of the present invention, the compound may besubstituted with a hydrocarbylsulphanyl group. The term“hydrocarbylsulphanyl” means a group that comprises at least hydrocarbylgroup (as herein defined) and sulphur, such as —S-hydrocarbyl, or—S-hydrocarbon. That sulphur group may be optionally oxidised.

In some embodiments of the present invention the hydrocarbylsulphanylgroup is —S—C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, such as —S—C₁₋₆ alkyl, for example —S—C₁₋₃alkyl, and also for example —S—CH₂CH₂CH₃, —S—CH₂CH₃ or —SCH₃

Further Embodiments

For some applications, the compounds have a reversible action.

For some applications, the compounds have an irreversible action.

In one embodiment, the compounds of the present invention are useful forthe treatment of breast cancer.

The compounds of the present invention may be in the form of a salt.

The present invention also covers novel intermediates that are useful toprepare the compounds of the present invention. For example, the presentinvention covers novel alcohol precursors for the compounds. By way offurther example, the present invention covers bis protected precursorsfor the compounds. Examples of each of these precursors are presentedherein. The present invention also encompasses a process comprising eachor both of those precursors for the synthesis of the compounds of thepresent invention.

Steroid Dehydrogenase

11β Steroid dehydrogenase may be referred to as “11β-HSD” or “HD” forshort

In some embodiments of the invention 11β-HSD is 11β-HSD Type 1.

In some embodiments of the invention 11β-HSD is 11β-HSD Type 2.

Steroid Dehydrogenase Inhibition

It is believed that some disease conditions associated with HD activityare due to conversion of a inactive, cortisone to an active, cortisol.In disease conditions associated with HD activity, it would be desirableto inhibit HD activity.

Here, the term “inhibit” includes reduce and/or eliminate and/or maskand/or prevent the detrimental action of HD.

HD Inhibitor

In accordance with the present invention, the compound of the presentinvention is capable of acting as an HD inhibitor.

Here, the term “inhibitor” as used herein with respect to the compoundof the present invention means a compound that can inhibit HDactivity—such as reduce and/or eliminate and/or mask and/or prevent thedetrimental action of HD. The HD inhibitor may act as an antagonist.

The ability of compounds to inhibit steroid dehydrogenase activity canbe assessed using the suitable Assay Protocol presented in the Examplessection.

It is to be noted that the compound of the present invention may haveother beneficial properties in addition to or in the alternative to itsability to inhibit HD activity.

Hydrocarbyl

The term “hydrocarbyl group” as used herein means a group comprising atleast C and H and may optionally comprise one or more other suitablesubstituents. Examples of such substituents may include halo, alkoxy,nitro, an alkyl group, a cyclic group etc. In addition to thepossibility of the substituents being a cyclic group, a combination ofsubstituents may form a cyclic group. If the hydrocarbyl group comprisesmore than one C then those carbons need not necessarily be linked toeach other. For example, at least two of the carbons may be linked via asuitable element or group. Thus, the hydrocarbyl group may containhetero atoms. Suitable hetero atoms will be apparent to those skilled inthe art and include, for instance, sulphur, nitrogen and oxygen. Anon-limiting example of a hydrocarbyl group is an acyl group.

A typical hydrocarbyl group is a hydrocarbon group. Here the term“hydrocarbon” means any one of an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, analkynyl group, which groups may be linear, branched or cyclic, or anaryl group. The term hydrocarbon also includes those groups but whereinthey have been optionally substituted. If the hydrocarbon is a branchedstructure having substituent(s) thereon, then the substitution may be oneither the hydrocarbon backbone or on the branch; alternatively thesubstitutions may be on the hydrocarbon backbone and on the branch.

In some embodiments of the present invention, one or more hydrocarbylgroups is independently selected from optionally substituted alkylgroup, optionally substituted haloalkyl group, aryl group, alkylarylgroup, alkylarylakyl group, and an alkene group.

In some embodiments of the present invention, one or more hydrocarbylgroups is independently selected from C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, such as C₁-C₆alkyl group, and C₁-C₃ alkyl group. Typical alkyl groups include C₁alkyl, C₂ alkyl, C₃ alkyl, C₄ alkyl, C₅ alkyl, C₇ alkyl, and C₈ alkyl.

In some embodiments of the present invention, one or more hydrocarbylgroups is independently selected from C₁-C₁₀ haloalkyl group, C₁-C₆haloalkyl group, C₁-C₃ haloalkyl group, C₁-C₁₀ bromoalkyl group, C₁-C₆bromoalkyl group, and C₁-C₃ bromoalkyl group. Typical haloalkyl groupsinclude C₁ haloalkyl, C₂ haloalkyl, C₃ haloalkyl, C₄ haloalkyl, C₅haloalkyl, C₇ haloalkyl, C₈ haloalkyl, C₁ bromoalkyl, C₂ bromoalkyl, C₃bromoalkyl, C₄ bromoalkyl, C₅ bromoalkyl, C₇ bromoalkyl, and C₈bromoalkyl.

In some embodiments of the present invention, one or more hydrocarbylgroups is independently selected from aryl groups, alkylaryl groups,alkylarylakyl groups, —(CH₂)₁₋₁₀-aryl, —(CH₂)₁₋₁₀-Ph, (CH₂)₁₋₁₀-Ph-C₁₋₁₀alkyl, —(CH₂)₁₋₅-Ph, (CH₂)₁₋₅-Ph-C₁₋₅ alkyl, —(CH₂)₁₋₃-Ph,(CH₂)₁₋₃-Ph-C₁₋₃ alkyl, —CH₂-Ph, and —CH₂-Ph-C(CH₃)₃. The aryl groupsmay contain a hetero atom. Thus the aryl group or one or more of thearyl groups may be carbocyclic or more may heterocyclic. Typical heteroatoms include O, N and S, in particular N.

In some embodiments of the present invention, one or more hydrocarbylgroups is independently selected from —(CH₂)₁₋₁₀-cycloalkyl,—(CH₂)₁₋₁₀—C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl, —(CH₂)₁₋₇—C₃₋₇cycloalkyl,—(CH₂)₁₋₅—C₃₋₅cycloalkyl, —(CH₂)₁₋₃—C₃₋₅cycloalkyl, and—CH₂—C₃cycloalkyl.

In some embodiments of the present invention, one or more hydrocarbylgroups is independently selected from alkene groups. Typical alkenegroups include C₁-C₁₀ alkene group, C₁-C₆ alkene group, C₁-C₃ alkenegroup, such as C₁, C₂, C₃, C₄, C₅, C₆, or C₇ alkene group. In anexemplary embodiment the alkene group contains 1, 2 or 3 C═C bonds. Inan exemplary embodiment the alkene group contains 1 C═C bond. In someembodiments at least one C═C bond or the only C═C bond is to theterminal C of the alkene chain, that is the bond is at the distal end ofthe chain to the ring system.

In some embodiments of the present invention, one or more hydrocarbylgroups is independently selected from oxyhydrocarbyl groups.

Oxyhydrocarbyl

The term “oxyhydrocarbyl” group as used herein means a group comprisingat least C, H and O and may optionally comprise one or more othersuitable substituents. Examples of such substituents may include halo-,alkoxy-, nitro-, an alkyl group, a cyclic group etc. In addition to thepossibility of the substituents being a cyclic group, a combination ofsubstituents may form a cyclic group. If the oxyhydrocarbyl groupcomprises more than one C then those carbons need not necessarily belinked to each other. For example, at least two of the carbons may belinked via a suitable element or group. Thus, the oxyhydrocarbyl groupmay contain hetero atoms. Suitable hetero atoms will be apparent tothose skilled in the art and include, for instance, sulphur andnitrogen.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the oxyhydrocarbyl group isa oxyhydrocarbon group.

Here the term “oxyhydrocarbon” means any one of an alkoxy group, anoxyalkenyl group, an oxyalkynyl group, which groups may be linear,branched or cyclic, or an oxyaryl group. The term oxyhydrocarbon alsoincludes those groups but wherein they have been optionally substituted.If the oxyhydrocarbon is a branched structure having substituent(s)thereon, then the substitution may be on either the hydrocarbon backboneor on the branch; alternatively the substitutions may be on thehydrocarbon backbone and on the branch.

Typically, the oxyhydrocarbyl group is of the formula C₁₋₆O (such as aC₁₋₃O).

Animal Assay Model for Determining Oestrogenic Activity (Protocol 1)Lack of In Vivo Oestrogenicity

The compounds of the present invention may be studied using an animalmodel, in particular in ovariectomised rats. In this model, compoundswhich are oestrogenic stimulate uterine growth.

The compound (10 mg/Kg/day for five days) was administered orally torats with another group of animals receiving vehicle only (propyleneglycol). A further group received the estrogenic compound EMATEsubcutaneously in an amount of 10 μg/day for five days. At the end ofthe study uteri were obtained and weighed with the results beingexpressed as uterine weight/whole body weight×100.

Compounds having no significant effect on uterine growth are notoestrogenic.

Reporters

A wide variety of reporters may be used in the assay methods (as well asscreens) of the present invention with selected reporters providingconveniently detectable signals (e.g. by spectroscopy). By way ofexample, a reporter gene may encode an enzyme which catalyses a reactionwhich alters light absorption properties.

Other protocols include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),radioimmunoassay (RIA) and fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS). Atwo-site, monoclonal-based immunoassay utilising monoclonal antibodiesreactive to two non-interfering epitopes may even be used. These andother assays are described, among other places, in Hampton R et al(1990, Serological Methods, A Laboratory Manual, APS Press, St PaulMinn.) and Maddox D E et al (1983, J Exp Med 15 8:121 1).

Examples of reporter molecules include but are not limited to(β-galactosidase, invertase, green fluorescent protein, luciferase,chloramphenicol, acetyltransferase, (-glucuronidase, exo-glucanase andglucoamylase. Alternatively, radiolabelled or fluorescent tag-labellednucleotides can be incorporated into nascent transcripts which are thenidentified when bound to oligonucleotide probes.

By way of further examples, a number of companies such as PharmaciaBiotech (Piscataway, N.J.), Promega (Madison, Wis.), and US BiochemicalCorp (Cleveland, Ohio) supply commercial kits and protocols for assayprocedures. Suitable reporter molecules or labels include thoseradionuclides, enzymes, fluorescent, chemiluminescent, or chromogenicagents as well as substrates, cofactors, inhibitors, magnetic particlesand the like. Patents teaching the use of such labels include U.S. Pat.No. 3,817,837; U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,752; U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,350; U.S.Pat. No. 3,996,345; U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,437; U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,149 andU.S. Pat. No. 4,366,241.

Host Cells

The term “host cell”—in relation to the present invention includes anycell that could comprise the target for the agent of the presentinvention.

Thus, a further embodiment of the present invention provides host cellstransformed or transfected with a polynucleotide that is or expressesthe target of the present invention. In one embodiment of the presentinvention said polynucleotide is carried in a vector for the replicationand expression of polynucleotides that are to be the target or are toexpress the target. The cells will be chosen to be compatible with thesaid vector and may for example be prokaryotic (for example bacterial),fungal, yeast or plant cells.

The gram negative bacterium E. coli is widely used as a host forheterologous gene expression. However, large amounts of heterologousprotein tend to accumulate inside the cell. Subsequent purification ofthe desired protein from the bulk of E. coli intracellular proteins cansometimes be difficult.

In contrast to E. coli, bacteria from the genus Bacillus are verysuitable as heterologous hosts because of their capability to secreteproteins into the culture medium. Other bacteria suitable as hosts arethose from the genera Streptomyces and Pseudomonas.

Depending on the nature of the polynucleotide encoding the polypeptideof the present invention, and/or the desirability for further processingof the expressed protein, eukaryotic hosts such as yeasts or other fungimay be used. In general, yeast cells are preferred over fungal cellsbecause they are easier to manipulate. However, some proteins are eitherpoorly secreted from the yeast cell, or in some cases are not processedproperly (e.g. hyperglycosylation in yeast). In these instances, adifferent fungal host organism should be selected.

Examples of suitable expression hosts within the scope of the presentinvention are fungi such as Aspergillus species (such as those describedin EP-A-0184438 and EP-A-0284603) and Trichoderma species; bacteria suchas Bacillus species (such as those described in EP-A-0134048 andEP-A-0253455), Streptomyces species and Pseudomonas species; and yeastssuch as Kluyveromyces species (such as those described in EP-A-0096430and EP-A-0301670) and Saccharomyces species. By way of example, typicalexpression hosts may be selected from Aspergillus niger, Aspergillusniger var. tubigenis, Aspergillus niger var. awamori, Aspergillusaculeatis, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus orvzae, Trichoderma reesei,Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens,Kluyveromyces lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The use of suitable host cells—such as yeast, fungal and plant hostcells—may provide for post-translational modifications (e.g.myristoylation, glycosylation, truncation, lapidation and tyrosine,serine or threonine phosphorylation) as may be needed to confer optimalbiological activity on recombinant expression products of the presentinvention.

Organism

The term “organism” in relation to the present invention includes anyorganism that could comprise the target according to the presentinvention and/or products obtained therefrom. Examples of organisms mayinclude a fungus, yeast or a plant.

The term “transgenic organism” in relation to the present inventionincludes any organism that comprises the target according to the presentinvention and/or products obtained.

Transformation of Host Cells/Host Organisms

As indicated earlier, the host organism can be a prokaryotic or aeukaryotic organism.

Examples of suitable prokaryotic hosts include E. coli and Bacillussubtilis. Teachings on the transformation of prokaryotic hosts is welldocumented in the art, for example see Sambrook et al (MolecularCloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd edition, 1989, Cold Spring HarborLaboratory Press) and Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in MolecularBiology (1995), John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

If a prokaryotic host is used then the nucleotide sequence may need tobe suitably modified before transformation—such as by removal ofintrons.

In another embodiment the transgenic organism can be a yeast. In thisregard, yeast have also been widely used as a vehicle for heterologousgene expression. The species Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a long historyof industrial use, including its use for heterologous gene expression.Expression of heterologous genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has beenreviewed by Goodey et al (1987, Yeast Biotechnology, D R Berry et al,eds, pp 401-429, Allen and Unwin, London) and by King et al (1989,Molecular and Cell Biology of Yeasts, E F Walton and G T Yarronton, eds,pp 107-133, Blackie, Glasgow).

For several reasons Saccharomyces cerevisiae is well suited forheterologous gene expression. First, it is non-pathogenic to humans andit is incapable of producing certain endotoxins. Second, it has a longhistory of safe use following centuries of commercial exploitation forvarious purposes. This has led to wide public acceptability. Third, theextensive commercial use and research devoted to the organism hasresulted in a wealth of knowledge about the genetics and physiology aswell as large-scale fermentation characteristics of Saccharomycescerevisiae.

A review of the principles of heterologous gene expression inSaccharomyces cerevisiae and secretion of gene products is given by EHinchcliffe E Kenny (1993, “Yeast as a vehicle for the expression ofheterologous genes”, Yeasts, Vol 5, Anthony H Rose and J StuartHarrison, eds, 2nd edition, Academic Press Ltd.).

Several types of yeast vectors are available, including integrativevectors, which require recombination with the host genome for theirmaintenance, and autonomously replicating plasmid vectors.

In order to prepare the transgenic Saccharomyces, expression constructsare prepared by inserting the nucleotide sequence into a constructdesigned for expression in yeast. Several types of constructs used forheterologous expression have been developed. The constructs contain apromoter active in yeast fused to the nucleotide sequence, usually apromoter of yeast origin, such as the GAL1 promoter, is used. Usually asignal sequence of yeast origin, such as the sequence encoding the SUC2signal peptide, is used. A terminator active in yeast ends theexpression system.

For the transformation of yeast several transformation protocols havebeen developed. For example, a transgenic Saccharomyces according to thepresent invention can be prepared by following the teachings of Hinnenet al (1978, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA75, 1929); Beggs, J D (1978, Nature, London, 275, 104); and Ito, H et al(1983, J Bacteriology 153, 163-168).

The transformed yeast cells are selected using various selectivemarkers. Among the markers used for transformation are a number ofauxotrophic markers such as LEU2, HIS4 and TRP1, and dominant antibioticresistance markers such as aminoglycoside antibiotic markers, e.g. G418.

Another host organism is a plant. The basic principle in theconstruction of genetically modified plants is to insert geneticinformation in the plant genome so as to obtain a stable maintenance ofthe inserted genetic material. Several techniques exist for insertingthe genetic information, the two main principles being directintroduction of the genetic information and introduction of the geneticinformation by use of a vector system. A review of the generaltechniques may be found in articles by Potrykus (Annu Rev Plant PhysiolPlant Mol Biol [1991] 42:205-225) and Christou (Agro-Food-IndustryHi-Tech March/April 1994 17-27). Further teachings on planttransformation may be found in EP-A-0449375.

Thus, the present invention also provides a method of transforming ahost cell with a nucleotide sequence that is to be the target or is toexpress the target. Host cells transformed with the nucleotide sequencemay be cultured under conditions suitable for the expression of theencoded protein. The protein produced by a recombinant cell may bedisplayed on the surface of the cell. If desired, and as will beunderstood by those of skill in the art, expression vectors containingcoding sequences can be designed with signal sequences which directsecretion of the coding sequences through a particular prokaryotic oreukaryotic cell membrane. Other recombinant constructions may join thecoding sequence to nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide domainwhich will facilitate purification of soluble proteins (Kroll D J et al(1993) DNA Cell Biol 12:441-53).

Variants/Homologues/Derivatives

In addition to the specific amino acid sequences and nucleotidesequences mentioned herein, the present invention also encompasses theuse of variants, homologue and derivatives thereof. Here, the term“homology” can be equated with “identity”.

In the present context, an homologous sequence is taken to include anamino acid sequence which may be at least 75, 85 or 90% identical, forexample at least 95 or 98% identical. Although homology can also beconsidered in terms of similarity (i.e. amino acid residues havingsimilar chemical properties/functions), in the context of the presentinvention it is preferred to express homology in terms of sequenceidentity.

Homology comparisons can be conducted by eye, or more usually, with theaid of readily available sequence comparison programs. Thesecommercially available computer programs can calculate % homologybetween two or more sequences.

% homology may be calculated over contiguous sequences, i.e. onesequence is aligned with the other sequence and each amino acid in onesequence is directly compared with the corresponding amino acid in theother sequence, one residue at a time. This is called an “ungapped”alignment. Typically, such ungapped alignments are performed only over arelatively short number of residues.

Although this is a very simple and consistent method, it fails to takeinto consideration that, for example, in an otherwise identical pair ofsequences, one insertion or deletion will cause the following amino acidresidues to be put out of alignment, thus potentially resulting in alarge reduction in % homology when a global alignment is performed.Consequently, most sequence comparison methods are designed to produceoptimal alignments that take into consideration possible insertions anddeletions without penalising unduly the overall homology score. This isachieved by inserting “gaps” in the sequence alignment to try tomaximise local homology.

However, these more complex methods assign “gap penalties” to each gapthat occurs in the alignment so that, for the same number of identicalamino acids, a sequence alignment with as few gaps aspossible—reflecting higher relatedness between the two comparedsequences—will achieve a higher score than one with many gaps. “Affinegap costs” are typically used that charge a relatively high cost for theexistence of a gap and a smaller penalty for each subsequent residue inthe gap. This is the most commonly used gap scoring system. High gappenalties will of course produce optimised alignments with fewer gaps.Most alignment programs allow the gap penalties to be modified. However,it is preferred to use the default values when using such software forsequence comparisons. For example when using the GCG Wisconsin Bestfitpackage (see below) the default gap penalty for amino acid sequences is−12 for a gap and −4 for each extension.

Calculation of maximum % homology therefore firstly requires theproduction of an optimal alignment, taking into consideration gappenalties. A suitable computer program for carrying out such analignment is the GCG Wisconsin Bestfit package (University of Wisconsin,U.S.A.; Devereux et al., 1984, Nucleic Acids Research 12:387). Examplesof other software than can perform sequence comparisons include, but arenot limited to, the BLAST package (see Ausubel et al., 1999 ibid—Chapter 18), FASTA (Atschul et al., 1990, J. Mol. Biol., 403-410) andthe GENEWORKS suite of comparison tools. Both BLAST and FASTA areavailable for offline and online searching (see Ausubel et al., 1999ibid, pages 7-58 to 7-60). However it is preferred to use the GCGBestfit program.

A further useful reference is that found in FEMS Microbiol Lett 1999 May15; 174(2):247-50 (and a published erratum appears in FEMS MicrobialLett 1999 Aug. 1; 177(1):187-8).

Although the final % homology can be measured in terms of identity, thealignment process itself is typically not based on an all-or-nothingpair comparison. Instead, a scaled similarity score matrix is generallyused that assigns scores to each pairwise comparison based on chemicalsimilarity or evolutionary distance. An example of such a matrixcommonly used is the BLOSUM62 matrix—the default matrix for the BLASTsuite of programs. GCG Wisconsin programs generally use either thepublic default values or a custom symbol comparison table if supplied(see user manual for further details). It is preferred to use the publicdefault values for the GCG package, or in the case of other software,the default matrix, such as BLOSUM62.

Once the software has produced an optimal alignment, it is possible tocalculate % homology, for example % sequence identity. The softwaretypically does this as part of the sequence comparison and generates anumerical result.

The sequences may also have deletions, insertions or substitutions ofamino acid residues which produce a silent change and result in afunctionally equivalent substance. Deliberate amino acid substitutionsmay be made on the basis of similarity in polarity, charge, solubility,hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, and/or the amphipathic nature of theresidues as long as the secondary binding activity of the substance isretained. For example, negatively charged amino acids include asparticacid and glutamic acid; positively charged amino acids include lysineand arginine; and amino acids with uncharged polar head groups havingsimilar hydrophilicity values include leucine, isoleucine, valine,glycine, alanine, asparagine, glutamine, serine, threonine,phenylalanine, and tyrosine.

Conservative substitutions may be made, for example according to theTable below. Amino acids in the same block in the second column and forexample in the same line in the third column may be substituted for eachother:

TABLE 1 ALIPHATIC Non-polar G A P I L V Polar - uncharged C S T M N QPolar - charged D E K R AROMATIC H F W Y

Expression Vectors

The nucleotide sequence for use as the target or for expressing thetarget can be incorporated into a recombinant replicable vector. Thevector may be used to replicate and express the nucleotide sequence inand/or from a compatible host cell. Expression may be controlled usingcontrol sequences which include promoters/enhancers and other expressionregulation signals. Prokaryotic promoters and promoters functional ineukaryotic cells may be used. Tissue specific or stimuli specificpromoters may be used. Chimeric promoters may also be used comprisingsequence elements from two or more different promoters described above.

The protein produced by a host recombinant cell by expression of thenucleotide sequence may be secreted or may be contained intracellularlydepending on the sequence and/or the vector used. The coding sequencescan be designed with signal sequences which direct secretion of thesubstance coding sequences through a particular prokaryotic oreukaryotic cell membrane.

Fusion Proteins

The target amino acid sequence may be produced as a fusion protein, forexample to aid in extraction and purification. Examples of fusionprotein partners include glutathione-S-transferase (GST), 6×His, GAL4(DNA binding and/or transcriptional activation domains) and(-galactosidase. It may also be convenient to include a proteolyticcleavage site between the fusion protein partner and the proteinsequence of interest to allow removal of fusion protein sequences. Inone embodiment of the present invention the fusion protein will nothinder the activity of the target.

The fusion protein may comprise an antigen or an antigenic determinantfused to the substance of the present invention. In this embodiment, thefusion protein may be a non-naturally occurring fusion proteincomprising a substance which may act as an adjuvant in the sense ofproviding a generalised stimulation of the immune system. The antigen orantigenic determinant may be attached to either the amino or carboxyterminus of the substance.

In another embodiment of the invention, the amino acid sequence may beligated to a heterologous sequence to encode a fusion protein. Forexample, for screening of peptide libraries for agents capable ofaffecting the substance activity, it may be useful to encode a chimericsubstance expressing a heterologous epitope that is recognised by acommercially available antibody.

Therapy

The compounds of the present invention may be used as therapeuticagents—i.e. in therapy applications.

The term “therapy” includes curative effects, alleviation effects, andprophylactic effects.

The therapy may be on humans or animals, for example female animals.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a pharmaceuticalcomposition, which comprises a compound according to the presentinvention and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluentor excipient (including combinations thereof).

The pharmaceutical compositions may be for human or animal usage inhuman and veterinary medicine and will typically comprise any one ormore of a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, or excipient.Acceptable carriers or diluents for therapeutic use are well known inthe pharmaceutical art, and are described, for example, in Remington'sPharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co. (A. R. Gennaro edit. 1985).The choice of pharmaceutical carrier, excipient or diluent can beselected with regard to the intended route of administration andstandard pharmaceutical practice. The pharmaceutical compositions maycomprise as—or in addition to—the carrier, excipient or diluent anysuitable binder(s), lubricant(s), suspending agent(s), coating agent(s),solubilising agent(s).

Preservatives, stabilisers, dyes and even flavouring agents may beprovided in the pharmaceutical composition. Examples of preservativesinclude sodium benzoate, sorbic acid and esters of p-hydroxybenzoicacid. Antioxidants and suspending agents may be also used.

There may be different composition/formulation requirements dependent onthe different delivery systems. By way of example, the pharmaceuticalcomposition of the present invention may be formulated to be deliveredusing a mini-pump or by a mucosal route, for example, as a nasal sprayor aerosol for inhalation or ingestable solution, or parenterally inwhich the composition is formulated by an injectable form, for delivery,by, for example, an intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous route.Alternatively, the formulation may be designed to be delivered by bothroutes.

Where the agent is to be delivered mucosally through thegastrointestinal mucosa, it should be able to remain stable duringtransit though the gastrointestinal tract; for example, it should beresistant to proteolytic degradation, stable at acid pH and resistant tothe detergent effects of bile.

Where appropriate, the pharmaceutical compositions can be administeredby inhalation, in the form of a suppository or pessary, topically in theform of a lotion, solution, cream, ointment or dusting powder, by use ofa skin patch, orally in the form of tablets containing excipients suchas starch or lactose, or in capsules or ovules either alone or inadmixture with excipients, or in the form of elixirs, solutions orsuspensions containing flavouring or colouring agents, or they can beinjected parenterally, for example intravenously, intramuscularly orsubcutaneously. For parenteral administration, the compositions may bebest used in the form of a sterile aqueous solution which may containother substances, for example enough salts or monosaccharides to makethe solution isotonic with blood. For buccal or sublingualadministration the compositions may be administered in the form oftablets or lozenges which can be formulated in a conventional manner.

Combination Pharmaceutical

The compound of the present invention may be used in combination withone or more other active agents, such as one or more otherpharmaceutically active agents.

By way of example, the compounds of the present invention may be used incombination with other 11β-HSD inhibitors and/or other inhibitors suchas an aromatase inhibitor (such as for example, 4hydroxyandrostenedione(4-OHA)), and/or a steroid sulphatase inhibitors such as EMATE and/orsteroids—such as the naturally occurring sterneurosteroidsdehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and pregnenolone sulfate (PS)and/or other structurally similar organic compounds.

In addition, or in the alternative, the compound of the presentinvention may be used in combination with a biological responsemodifier.

The term biological response modifier (“BRM”) includes cytokines, immunemodulators, growth factors, haematopoiesis regulating factors, colonystimulating factors, chemotactic, haemolytic and thrombolytic factors,cell surface receptors, ligands, leukocyte adhesion molecules,monoclonal antibodies, preventative and therapeutic vaccines, hormones,extracellular matrix components, fibronectin, etc. For someapplications, for example, the biological response modifier is acytokine. Examples of cytokines include: interleukins (IL)—such as IL-1,IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IL-12,IL-19; Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF)— such as TNF-α; Interferon alpha,beta and gamma; TGF-β. For some applications, for example the cytokineis tumour necrosis factor (TNF). For some applications, the TNF may beany type of TNF—such as TNF-α, TNF-β, including derivatives or mixturesthereof. In one embodiment of the present invention the cytokine isTNF-α. Teachings on TNF may be found in the art—such as WO-A-98/08870and WO-A-98/13348.

Administration

Typically, a physician will determine the actual dosage which will bemost suitable for an individual subject and it will vary with the age,weight and response of the particular patient. The dosages below areexemplary of the average case. There can, of course, be individualinstances where higher or lower dosage ranges are merited.

The compositions of the present invention may be administered by directinjection. The composition may be formulated for parenteral, mucosal,intramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneous, intraocular or transdermaladministration. Depending upon the need, the agent may be administeredat a dose of from 0.01 to 30 mg/kg body weight, such as from 0.1 to 10mg/kg, for example from 0.1 to 1 mg/kg body weight.

By way of further example, the agents of the present invention may beadministered in accordance with a regimen of 1 to 4 times per day, forexample once or twice per day. The specific dose level and frequency ofdosage for any particular patient may be varied and will depend upon avariety of factors including the activity of the specific compoundemployed, the metabolic stability and length of action of that compound,the age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, mode and time ofadministration, rate of excretion, drug combination, the severity of theparticular condition, and the host undergoing therapy.

Aside from the typical modes of delivery—indicated above—the term“administered” also includes delivery by techniques such as lipidmediated transfection, liposomes, immunoliposomes, lipofectin, cationicfacial amphiphiles (CFAs) and combinations thereof. The routes for suchdelivery mechanisms include but are not limited to mucosal, nasal, oral,parenteral, gastrointestinal, topical, or sublingual routes.

The term “administered” includes but is not limited to delivery by amucosal route, for example, as a nasal spray or aerosol for inhalationor as an ingestable solution; a parenteral route where delivery is by aninjectable form, such as, for example, an intravenous, intramuscular orsubcutaneous route.

Thus, for pharmaceutical administration, the compounds of the presentinvention can be formulated in any suitable manner utilisingconventional pharmaceutical formulating techniques and pharmaceuticalcarriers, adjuvants, excipients, diluents etc. and usually forparenteral administration. Approximate effective dose rates may be inthe range from 1 to 1000 mg/day, such as from 10 to 900 mg/day or evenfrom 100 to 800 mg/day depending on the individual activities of thecompounds in question and for a patient of average (70 Kg) bodyweight.More usual dosage rates for the more active compounds will be in therange 200 to 800 mg/day, for example, 200 to 500 mg/day, also forexample from 200 to 250 mg/day. They may be given in single doseregimes, split dose regimes and/or in multiple dose regimes lasting overseveral days. For oral administration they may be formulated in tablets,capsules, solution or suspension containing from 100 to 500 mg ofcompound per unit dose. Alternatively and in some embodiments of thepresent invention the compounds will be formulated for parenteraladministration in a suitable parenterally administrable carrier andproviding single daily dosage rates in the range 200 to 800 mg, forexample 200 to 500, for example 200 to 250 mg. Such effective dailydoses will, however, vary depending on inherent activity of the activeingredient and on the bodyweight of the patient, such variations beingwithin the skill and judgement of the physician.

Cell Cycling

The compounds of the present invention may be useful in the method oftreatment of a cell cycling disorder.

As discussed in “Molecular Cell Biology” 3rd Ed. Lodish et al. pages177-181 different eukaryotic cells can grow and divide at quitedifferent rates. Yeast cells, for example, can divide every 120 min.,and the first divisions of fertilised eggs in the embryonic cells of seaurchins and insects take only 1530 min. because one large pre-existingcell is subdivided. However, most growing plant and animal cells take10-20 hours to double in number, and some duplicate at a much slowerrate. Many cells in adults, such as nerve cells and striated musclecells, do not divide at all; others, like the fibroblasts that assist inhealing wounds, grow on demand but are otherwise quiescent.

Still, every eukaryotic cell that divides must be ready to donate equalgenetic material to two daughter cells. DNA synthesis in eukaryotes doesnot occur throughout the cell division cycle but is restricted to a partof it before cell division.

The relationship between eukaryotic DNA synthesis and cell division hasbeen analysed in cultures of mammalian cells that were all capable ofgrowth and division. In contrast to bacteria, it was found, eukaryoticcells spend only a part of their time in DNA synthesis, and it iscompleted hours before cell division (mitosis). Thus a gap of timeoccurs after DNA synthesis and before cell division; another gap wasfound to occur after division and before the next round of DNAsynthesis. This analysis led to the conclusion that the eukaryotic cellcycle consists of an M (mitotic) phase, a G₁ phase (the first gap), theS (DNA synthesis) phase, a G₂ phase (the second gap), and back to M. Thephases between mitoses (G₁, S, and G₂) are known collectively as theinterphase.

Many nondividing cells in tissues (for example, all quiescentfibroblasts) suspend the cycle after mitosis and just prior to DNAsynthesis; such “resting” cells are said to have exited from the cellcycle and to be in the G₀ state.

It is possible to identify cells when they are in one of the threeinterphase stages of the cell cycle, by using a fluorescence-activatedcell sorter (FACS) to measure their relative DNA content: a cell that isin G₁ (before DNA synthesis) has a defined amount x of DNA; during S(DNA replication), it has between x and 2x, and when in G₂ (or M), ithas 2x of DNA.

The stages of mitosis and cytokinesis in an animal cell are as follows(a) Interphase. The G₂ stage of interphase immediately precedes thebeginning of mitosis. Chromosomal DNA has been replicated and bound toprotein during the S phase, but chromosomes are not yet seen as distinctstructures. The nucleolus is the only nuclear substructure that isvisible under light microscope. In a diploid cell before DNA replicationthere are two morphologic chromosomes of each type, and the cell is saidto be 2n. In G₂, after DNA replication, the cell is 4n. There are fourcopies of each chromosomal DNA. Since the sister chromosomes have notyet separated from each other, they are called sister chromatids.

b) Early prophase. Centrioles, each with a newly formed daughtercentriole, begin moving toward opposite poles of the cell; thechromosomes can be seen as long threads. The nuclear membrane begins todisaggregate into small vesicles.

(c) Middle and late prophase. Chromosome condensation is completed; eachvisible chromosome structure is composed of two chromatids held togetherat their centromeres. Each chromatid contains one of the two newlyreplicated daughter DNA molecules. The microtubular spindle begins toradiate from the regions just adjacent to the centrioles, which aremoving closer to their poles. Some spindle fibres reach from pole topole; most go to chromatids and attach at kinetochores.

(d) Metaphase. The chromosomes move toward the equator of the cell,where they become aligned in the equatorial plane. The sister chromatidshave not yet separated.

(e) Anaphase. The two sister chromatids separate into independentchromosomes. Each contains a centromere that is linked by a spindlefibre to one pole, to which it moves. Thus one copy of each chromosomeis donated to each daughter cell. Simultaneously, the cell elongates, asdo the pole-to-pole spindles. Cytokinesis begins as the cleavage furrowstarts to form.

(f) Telophase. New membranes form around the daughter nuclei; thechromosomes uncoil and become less distinct, the nucleolus becomesvisible again, and the nuclear membrane forms around each daughternucleus. Cytokinesis is nearly complete, and the spindle disappears asthe microtubules and other fibres depolymerise. Throughout mitosis the“daughter” centriole at each pole grows until it is full-length. Attelophase the duplication of each of the original centrioles iscompleted, and new daughter centrioles will be generated during the nextinterphase.

(g) Interphase. Upon the completion of cytokinesis, the cell enters theG₁ phase of the cell cycle and proceeds again around the cycle.

It will be appreciated that cell cycling is an important cell process.Deviations from normal cell cycling can result in a number of medicaldisorders. Increased and/or unrestricted cell cycling may result incancer. Reduced cell cycling may result in degenerative conditions. Useof the compound of the present invention may provide a means to treatsuch disorders and conditions.

Thus, the compound of the present invention may be suitable for use inthe treatment of cell cycling disorders such as cancers, includinghormone dependent and hormone independent cancers.

In addition, the compound of the present invention may be suitable forthe treatment of cancers such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer,endometrial cancer, sarcomas, melanomas, prostate cancer, pancreaticcancer etc. and other solid tumours.

For some applications, cell cycling is inhibited and/or prevented and/orarrested, for example wherein cell cycling is prevented and/or arrested.In one embodiment cell cycling may be inhibited and/or prevented and/orarrested in the G₂/M phase. In one embodiment cell cycling may beirreversibly prevented and/or inhibited and/or arrested, such as whereincell cycling is irreversibly prevented and/or arrested.

By the term “irreversibly prevented and/or inhibited and/or arrested” itis meant after application of a compound of the present invention, onremoval of the compound the effects of the compound, namely preventionand/or inhibition and/or arrest of cell cycling, are still observable.More particularly by the term “irreversibly prevented and/or inhibitedand/or arrested” it is meant that when assayed in accordance with thecell cycling assay protocol presented herein, cells treated with acompound of interest show less growth after Stage 2 of the protocol Ithan control cells. Details on this protocol are presented below.

Thus, the present invention provides compounds which: cause inhibitionof growth of oestrogen receptor positive (ER+) and ER negative (ER−)breast cancer cells in vitro by preventing and/or inhibiting and/orarresting cell cycling; and/or cause regression of nitroso-methyl urea(NMU)-induced mammary tumours in intact animals (i.e. notovariectomised), and/or prevent and/or inhibit and/or arrest cellcycling in cancer cells; and/or act in vivo by preventing and/orinhibiting and/or arresting cell cycling and/or act as a cell cyclingagonist.

Cell Cycling Assay Protocol 2 Procedure Stage 1

MCF-7 breast cancer cells are seeded into multi-well culture plates at adensity of 105 cells/well. Cells were allowed to attach and grown untilabout 30% confluent when they are treated as follows:

Control—no treatment

Compound of Interest (COI) 20 μM

Cells are grown for 6 days in growth medium containing the COI withchanges of medium/COI every 3 days. At the end of this period cellnumbers were counted using a Coulter cell counter.

Stage 2

After treatment of cells for a 6-day period with the COI cells arere-seeded at a density of 10⁴ cells/well. No further treatments areadded. Cells are allowed to continue to grow for a further 6 days in thepresence of growth medium. At the end of this period cell numbers areagain counted.

Cancer

As indicated, the compounds of the present invention may be useful inthe treatment of a cell cycling disorder. A particular cell cyclingdisorder is cancer.

Cancer remains a major cause of mortality in most Western countries.Cancer therapies developed so far have included blocking the action orsynthesis of hormones to inhibit the growth of hormone-dependenttumours. However, more aggressive chemotherapy is currently employed forthe treatment of hormone-independent tumours.

Hence, the development of a pharmaceutical for anti-cancer treatment ofhormone dependent and/or hormone independent tumours, yet lacking someor all of the side-effects associated with chemotherapy, would representa major therapeutic advance.

We believe that the compound of the present invention provides a meansfor the treatment of cancers and, especially, breast cancer.

In addition or in the alternative the compound of the present inventionmay be useful in the blocking the growth of cancers including leukaemiasand solid tumours such as breast, endometrium, prostate, ovary andpancreatic tumours.

Other Therapies

It is also to be understood that the compound/composition of the presentinvention may have other important medical implications.

For example, the compound or composition of the present invention may beuseful in the treatment of the disorders listed in WO-A-99/52890-viz:

In addition, or in the alternative, the compound or composition of thepresent invention may be useful in the treatment of the disorders listedin WO-A-98/05635. For ease of reference, part of that list is nowprovided: diabetes including Type II diabetes, obesity, cancer,inflammation or inflammatory disease, dermatological disorders, fever,cardiovascular effects, haemorrhage, coagulation and acute phaseresponse, cachexia, anorexia, acute infection, HIV infection, shockstates, graft-versus-host reactions, autoimmune disease, reperfusioninjury, meningitis, migraine and aspirin-dependent anti-thrombosis;tumour growth, invasion and spread, angiogenesis, metastases, malignant,ascites and malignant pleural effusion; cerebral ischaemia, ischaemicheart disease, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis,asthma, multiple sclerosis, neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's disease,atherosclerosis, stroke, vasculitis, Crohn's disease and ulcerativecolitis; periodontitis, gingivitis; psoriasis, atopic dermatitis,chronic ulcers, epidermolysis bullosa; corneal ulceration, retinopathyand surgical wound healing; rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, eczema,anaphylaxis; restenosis, congestive heart failure, endometriosis,atherosclerosis or endosclerosis.

In addition, or in the alternative, the compound or composition of thepresent invention may be useful in the treatment of disorders listed inWO-A-98/07859. For ease of reference, part of that list is now provided:cytokine and cell proliferation/differentiation activity;immunosuppressant or immunostimulant activity (e.g. for treating immunedeficiency, including infection with human immune deficiency virus;regulation of lymphocyte growth; treating cancer and many autoimmunediseases, and to prevent transplant rejection or induce tumourimmunity); regulation of haematopoiesis, e.g. treatment of myeloid orlymphoid diseases; promoting growth of bone, cartilage, tendon, ligamentand nerve tissue, e.g. for healing wounds, treatment of burns, ulcersand periodontal disease and neurodegeneration; inhibition or activationof follicle-stimulating hormone (modulation of fertility);chemotactic/chemokinetic activity (e.g. for mobilising specific celltypes to sites of injury or infection); haemostatic and thrombolyticactivity (e.g. for treating haemophilia and stroke); antiinflammatoryactivity (for treating e.g. septic shock or Crohn's disease); asantimicrobials; modulators of e.g. metabolism or behaviour; asanalgesics; treating specific deficiency disorders; in treatment of e.g.psoriasis, in human or veterinary medicine.

In addition, or in the alternative, the composition of the presentinvention may be useful in the treatment of disorders listed inWO-A-98/09985. For ease of reference, part of that list is now provided:macrophage inhibitory and/or T cell inhibitory activity and thus,anti-inflammatory activity; anti-immune activity, i.e. inhibitoryeffects against a cellular and/or humoral immune response, including aresponse not associated with inflammation; inhibit the ability ofmacrophages and T cells to adhere to extracellular matrix components andfibronectin, as well as up-regulated fas receptor expression in T cells;inhibit unwanted immune reaction and inflammation including arthritis,including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation associated withhypersensitivity, allergic reactions, asthma, systemic lupuserythematosus, collagen diseases and other autoimmune diseases,inflammation associated with atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis,atherosclerotic heart disease, reperfusion injury, cardiac arrest,myocardial infarction, vascular inflammatory disorders, respiratorydistress syndrome or other cardiopulmonary diseases, inflammationassociated with peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis and other diseases ofthe gastrointestinal tract, hepatic fibrosis, liver cirrhosis or otherhepatic diseases, thyroiditis or other glandular diseases,glomerulonephritis or other renal and urologic diseases, otitis or otheroto-rhino-laryngological diseases, dermatitis or other dermal diseases,periodontal diseases or other dental diseases, orchitis orepididimo-orchitis, infertility, orchidal trauma or other immune-relatedtesticular diseases, placental dysfunction, placental insufficiency,habitual abortion, eclampsia, pre-eclampsia and other immune and/orinflammatory-related gynaecological diseases, posterior uveitis,intermediate uveitis, anterior uveitis, conjunctivitis, chorioretinitis,uveoretinitis, optic neuritis, intraocular inflammation, e.g. retinitisor cystoid macular oedema, sympathetic ophthalmia, scleritis, retinitispigmentosa, immune and inflammatory components of degenerative fondusdisease, inflammatory components of ocular trauma, ocular inflammationcaused by infection, proliferative vitreo-retinopathies, acute ischaemicoptic neuropathy, excessive scarring, e.g. following glaucoma filtrationoperation, immune and/or inflammation reaction against ocular implantsand other immune and inflammatory-related ophthalmic diseases,inflammation associated with autoimmune diseases or conditions ordisorders where, both in the central nervous system (CNS) or in anyother organ, immune and/or inflammation suppression would be beneficial,Parkinson's disease, complication and/or side effects from treatment ofParkinson's disease, AIDS-related dementia complex HIV-relatedencephalopathy, Devic's disease, Sydenham chorea, Alzheimer's diseaseand other degenerative diseases, conditions or disorders of the CNS,inflammatory components of stokes, post-polio syndrome, immune andinflammatory components of psychiatric disorders, myelitis,encephalitis, subacute sclerosing pan-encephalitis, encephalomyelitis,acute neuropathy, subacute neuropathy, chronic neuropathy,Guillaim-Barre syndrome, Sydenham chora, myasthenia gravis,pseudo-tumour cerebri, Down's Syndrome, Huntington's disease,amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, inflammatory components of CNScompression or CNS trauma or infections of the CNS, inflammatorycomponents of muscular atrophies and dystrophies, and immune andinflammatory related diseases, conditions or disorders of the centraland peripheral nervous systems, post-traumatic inflammation, septicshock, infectious diseases, inflammatory complications or side effectsof surgery, bone marrow transplantation or other transplantationcomplications and/or side effects, inflammatory and/or immunecomplications and side effects of gene therapy, e.g. due to infectionwith a viral carrier, or inflammation associated with AIDS, to suppressor inhibit a humoral and/or cellular immune response, to treat orameliorate monocyte or leukocyte proliferative diseases, e.g. leukaemia,by reducing the amount of monocytes or lymphocytes, for the preventionand/or treatment of graft rejection in cases of transplantation ofnatural or artificial cells, tissue and organs such as cornea, bonemarrow, organs, lenses, pacemakers, natural or artificial skin tissue.

As previously mentioned, in one embodiment the present inventionprovides use of a compound as described herein in the manufacture of acomposition for use in the therapy of a condition or disease associatedwith 11β-HSD.

Conditions and diseases associated with 11 β-HSD have been reviewed inWalker, E. A,; Stewart, P. M.; Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism,2003, 14 (7), 334-339.

In an exemplary embodiment, the condition or disease is selected fromthe list consisting of:

-   -   metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and obesity    -   cardiovascular disorders, such as hypertension    -   glaucoma    -   inflammatory disorders, such as arthritis or asthma    -   immune disorders    -   bone disorders, such as osteoporosis    -   cancer    -   intra-uterine growth retardation    -   apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome (AME)    -   polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)    -   hirsutism    -   acne    -   oligo- or amenorrhea    -   adrenal cortical adenoma and carcinoma    -   Cushing's syndrome    -   pituitary tumours    -   invasive carcinomas    -   breast cancer; and    -   endometrial cancer.

SUMMARY

In summation, the present invention provides compounds for use assteroid dehydrogenase inhibitors, and pharmaceutical compositions forthe same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention will be described in further detail by way ofexample only with reference to the accompanying figures in which:—

FIG. 1 is of graph 1 which shows the amount of protein per μL of ratliver and rat kidney.

FIG. 2 is of graph 2 which shows the enzyme concentration andtime-dependency course, E to F, in rat liver, 11 β-HSD type 1 activity.

FIG. 3 is of graph 3 which shows the enzyme concentration andtime-dependency course, F to E, in rat kidney, 11 β-HSD type 2 activity.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing extraction efficiencies obtained with fourextraction methods.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a comparison of 11β-HSD1 activity in rat andhuman hepatic microsomes.

FIG. 6 is a series of graphs showing the effect of incubation time onhuman microsomal 11β-HSD1 activity.

FIG. 7 is a series of graphs showing the effect of microsomal proteinconcentration on human microsomal 11β-HSD1 activity.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the substrate (cortisone) saturation curve forhuman hepatic microsomal 11β-HSD1.

FIG. 9 is a Lineweaver-Burke plot of substrate saturation data for humanhepatic microsomal 11β-HSD1.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the IC₅₀ determination for glycyrrhetinicacid.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the IC₅₀ determination for carbenoxolone.

FIGS. 12(A), 12(B) and 12(C) are graphs showing the 11β-HSD1 activitymeasured by Immunoassay. FIG. 12(A) shows the effect of protein; FIG.12(B) shows the effect of cortisone; and FIG. 12(C) shows the effect ofTween-80.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the evaluation of the Assay Designs CortisolImmunoassay.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing the effect of increasing microsomal proteinon measurement of 11β HSD1 activity detected by Assay DesignsImmunoassay.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing the detection of 11β HSD1 activity by RIAusing the Immunotech anti-cortisol antibody.

FIG. 16 is a graph showing the effect of lowering the Immunotechantibody concentration on the signal to noise (microsome group comparedto GA blank group).

FIG. 17 is a graph showing the Immunotech antibody saturation curve fordetection of 11β HSD1 activity by RIA.

FIG. 18 is a graph showing the linearity of human hepatic microsomal 11βHSD1 activity detected by RIA.

FIG. 19 is a graph showing the effect of Tween 80 on detection of humanhepatic microsomal 11β HSD1 activity by RIA.

FIG. 20 is a graph showing the effect of buffer systems on detection ofhuman hepatic microsomal 11β HDS1 activity by RIA.

FIG. 21 is a graph showing the linearity of human hepatic microsomal 11βHSD1 activity with incubation time detected by RIA.

FIG. 22 is a graph showing the substrate saturation curve for humanhepatic microsomal 11β HDS1 activity detected by RIA.

FIG. 23 is a Lineweaver-Burke plot of substrate saturation data forhuman hepatic microsomal 11β HDS1 activity detected by RIA.

FIG. 24 is a graph showing the DMSO tolerance of human hepaticmicrosomal 11β HSD1 activity.

FIG. 25 is an IC₅₀ curve for inhibition of human hepatic microsomal 11βHSD1 activity by glycyrrhetinic acid.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will now be described only by way of example.

Materials and Methods Materials

Enzymes—Rat livers and rat kidneys were obtained from normal Wistar rats(Harlan Olac, Bicester, Oxon, UK). Both the kidneys and livers werehomogenised on ice in PBS-sucrose buffer (1 g/10 ml) using anUltra-Turrax. After the livers and kidneys were homogenised thehomogenate was centrifuged for five minutes at 4000 rpm. The supernatantobtained was removed and stored in glass vials at −20° C. The amount ofprotein per μl of rat liver and kidney cytosol was determined using theBradford method [14].

Apparatus

-   -   Incubator: mechanically shaken water bath, SW 20, Germany.    -   Evaporator, Techne Driblock DB 3A, UK    -   TLC aluminium sheets 20×20 cm silica gel 60 F₂₅₄, Merck,        Germany.    -   Scintillation vials: 20 ml polypropylene vials with caps,        SARSTEDT, Germany.    -   Scintillation counter: Beckman LS 6000 SC, Beckman Instruments        Inc., USA.

Solutions

-   -   Assay medium: PBS-sucrose buffer, Dulbecco's Phosphate Buffered        Saline, 1 tablet/100 ml with 0.25 M sucrose, pH 7.4 BDH        Laboratory supplies, UK.    -   Scintillation fluid: Ecoscint A (National Diagnostics, USA).    -   Radioactive compound solutions: [1,2,6,7-³H]-cortisol (Sp. Ac.        84 Ci/mmol) NEN Germany, [4-¹⁴C]-cortisol (Sp. Ac. 53 mCi/mmol)        NEN Germany.    -   CrO₃ and Acetic acid (Sigma Chemical Co., UK).    -   Extraction fluid: Di-ethylether, Fischer Chemicals, UK.    -   Bradford Reagent solution: Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250, 100        mg in 95% ethanol with 100 ml of phosphoric acid (85% w/v)        diluted to 1 litre.

Compounds

-   -   Inhibitors: compounds were synthesised in accordance with the        synthetic routes below.    -   Cofactor: NADPH and NADP, Sigma Chemical Co., UK.

Methods Synthesis of Radio Labelled Cortisone

Labelled cortisol (F) (³H—F and ¹⁴C—F) was oxidised at the C-11 positionwith CrO₃ in order to synthesize to the corresponding labelled cortisone(³H-E and ¹⁴C-E).

For this reaction F was oxidised in a 0.25% CrO₃ (w/v) dissolved in a50% acetic-acid/distilled water (v/v) solution. The labelled F was thenadded to 1 ml of the CrO₃ solution, vortex mixed and put in an incubatorfor 20 minutes at 37° C. The aqueous reaction mixture was extractedtwice with 4 ml of di-ethylether, the di-ethylether was then evaporatedand the residue transferred to a TLC-plate, which was developed in thefollowing system, chloroform:methanol 9:1 (v/v). Unlabelled cortisone(E) was also run on the TLC-plate to locate the position of the labelledsteroids. After locating the spot of the labelled steroids this area iscut out from the TLC-plate and eluted with 0.5 ml of methanol.

The Amount of Protein Per μL of Rat Liver and Rat Kidney

The amount of protein in rat liver and rat kidney needed to bedetermined. The experiment was done according to the Bradford method[14]. The following method was used: first a BSA (protein) solution wasprepared (1 mg/ml). Protein solutions containing 10 to 100 μg proteinwere pipetted into tubes and volumes adjusted with distilled water. Then5 ml of protein reagent was added to the tubes and vortex mixed. Theabsorbance was measured at 595 nm after 15 minutes and before 1 hour in3 ml cuvettes against a reagent blank. The weight of the protein wasplotted against the corresponding absorbance resulting in a standardcurve used to determine the protein concentration in rat liver and ratkidney cytosols.

Assay Validation —Enzyme Concentration and Time-Dependency of 11β-HSDActivity

Before carrying out 11 β-HSD assays to examine the conversion E to F andF to E and the influence that different inhibitors have on theseconversions the amount of rat liver homogenate and rat kidney homogenateand their incubation time need to be determined.

11 β-HSD type 1 is the enzyme responsible for the conversion E to F andthis type of enzyme is present in rat liver. The substrate solution usedin this assay contained 70,000 cpm/ml ³H-E in PBS-sucrose and 0.5 μM ofunlabelled E and co-factor NADPH (9 mg/10 ml of substrate solution). 1ml of the substrate solution and the different amounts of rat liverhomogenate was added to all tubes.

The amount of rat liver homogenate needed for an assay was determined byincubating the substrate solution with 25, 50, 100 and 150 μl for 30,60, 90 and 120 minutes at 37° C. in a water bath with the tubes beingmechanically shaken. After the incubation 50 μL of recovery solution wasadded, containing about 8,000 cpm/50 μL of ¹⁴C—F and 50 μg/50 μL ofunlabelled F for visualising the spot on the TLC-plate, to correct forthe losses made in the next two steps. F was then extracted from theaqueous phase with 4 ml of ether (2×30 sec cycle, vortex mix). Theaqueous phase was then frozen using dry-ice and the organic layer wasdecanted and poured into smaller tubes and evaporated. 6 drops of etherwere then added to the small tubes to re-dissolve the residue which wastransferred to an aluminium thin layer chromatography plate (TLC-plate).The TLC-plate was developed in a TLC tank under saturated conditions.The solvent system used was chloroform:methanol 9:1 (v/v). The F spotson the TLC-plate were visualised under UV-light and cut out from theTLC-plate (R_(f)=0.45). The spots from the TLC-plate were then put intoscintillation vials and 0.5 ml of methanol was added to all vials toelute the radioactivity from the TLC-plate for 5 minutes. 10 ml ofEcoscint was added to the scintillation vials and they were put into thescintillation counter to count amount of product formed.

The same procedure was used for the 11 β-HSD type 2 assay, theconversion F to E, to determine the amount of rat kidney to be used andthe incubation time. Except this time the substrate solution contained³H—F and unlabelled F and the recovery contained ¹⁴C-E and unlabelled Eand cortisone has a R_(f) value of 0.65 on the TLC-plate.

Assay Procedure—the 11 β-HSD Inhibitors

In these assays the influence of different inhibitors on the 11 β-HSDactivity both in reductive (type 1) and oxidative (type 2) directionswere assessed. In the reductive direction E is the substrate and F theproduct and visa versa in the case of oxidation. The method describedhere is for the oxidative direction.

The substrate solution contained about 50,000 cpm/ml ³H—F in PBS-sucroseand 0.5 μM F. 1 ml of the substrate solution was added to each tube, theinhibitors were also added, at a 10 μM concentration, to each tubeexcept to the “control” and “blank” tubes. 150 μL was added to all tubesexcept to the blanks, this was done to correct for the amount of ³H—Fspontaneously formed. The tubes were incubated for 60 minutes in amechanically shaken water bath at 37° C. The amount of kidney liverhomogenate and incubation time used resulted from the enzyme- andtime-dependency assay. After incubation 50 μL of recovery was added tocorrect for the losses made in the next steps, containing 5000 cpm/50 μLof ¹⁴C-E and 50 μg/50 μL of unlabelled E (to visualise the spot on theTLC-plate). The aqueous mixture was then extracted with 4 ml of ether(2×30 sec cycle, vortex mix). After freezing the aqueous phase, theether (upper) layer was decanted into smaller tubes and evaporated at45° C. until completely dry. The residue was then re-dissolved in 6drops of ether and transferred to a TLC-plate. The TLC-plate wasdeveloped in chloroform:methanol (9:1 v/v) solvent system, the TLC-plateran for about 90 minutes until the solvent front had moved about 18 cm.The position of the product E was visualised under UV-light and cut outfrom the TLC-plate and put into scintillation vials. Radioactivity waseluted over 5 minutes with 0.5 ml methanol. 0.5 ml of PBS-sucrose and 10ml of Ecoscint were then added and vortex mixed before counting in thescintillation counter. Before counting the samples, two total activityvials were prepared. These contained 0.5 ml of the substrate solution,50 μL of the recovery, 0.5 ml of methanol and 10 ml of Ecoscint. Thesetwo total activity vials were needed to determine the amount of ¹⁴C-Eand ³H—F added in the beginning to make the calculations.

In case of the reductive direction, E to F, the same method was used.Only the substrate solution containing ³H-E and unlabelled E and therecovery containing ¹⁴C—F and unlabelled F are different to the methodused in the oxidative direction.

After testing all the inhibitors at 10 μM a dose-response experiment wasdone for the most potent 11 β-HSD type 1 and type 2 inhibitors. To lookat the percentage of inhibition four different concentrations, 1, 5, 10and 20 μM, were used. The method for both the rat liver, type 1 thereductive, and rat kidney, type 2 the oxidative, stay the samethroughout the entire experiment.

Results The Amount of Protein Per μL of Rat Liver and Rat Kidney

An initial experiment was carried out to determine the amount of proteinin rat liver cytosol and rat kidney cytosol, to be added to each tube.Graph 1 in FIG. 1 shows the standard curve from which the amount ofprotein used in both experiments was calculated. The amount of proteinadded to each tube in the rat liver experiment was 75.5 μg (per 25 μL).In the rat kidney experiment the amount of protein added to each tubewas 135.6 μg (per 150 μL).

Enzyme Concentration and Time-Dependency of 11β-HSD Activity

In this experiment the amount of rat liver homogenate and rat kidneyhomogenate added to each tube and the incubation time was determined.Graph 2 in FIG. 2 shows the enzyme concentration and time-dependencycourse of the rat liver experiment E to F, 11 β-HSD type 1 activity.Graph 3 in FIG. 3 shows the enzyme concentration and time-dependencycourse F to E, 11 β-HSD type 2 activity. After drawing the graphs theoptimal amount of rat liver cytosol and rat kidney cytosol and boththeir incubation times were selected. One important rule when selectingboth variables, to select an amount of rat liver and rat kidney andincubation time on a linear part of the graph. This is done to avoidfluctuations in enzyme activity. The amount of rat liver cytosolselected was 25 μL and 90 minutes of incubation time, the amount of ratkidney cytosol selected was 150 μL and 60 minutes of incubation time.

The 11 β-HSD Inhibitors

In this experiment the influence of different inhibitors on theconversion E to F and F to E was determined. The reason why inhibitionin both directions was examined was to make a comparison between theinhibitors and which type of 11 β-HSD they inhibit more. Compounds werescreened for their ability to inhibit 11 β-HSD type 1 (E to F) and type2 (F to E). All the inhibitors were initially tested at a 10 μMconcentration. The percent of inhibition was calculated as thepercentage of decrease in radio labelled ³H-E and ³H—F of productformed, compared with the control activity (the tubes without aninhibitor in it). All the results calculated are means, n=2.

TABLE 2 Inhibitory Effect % inhibition of 11β % inhibition of 11β STXHSD1 @ 10 μM HSD2 @ 10 μM typical No. Structure typical sd ± 5% sd ± 5%412

27 3 413

53 n = 2 IC₅₀ = 6.6 μM 0.2 421

60 n = 2 IC₅₀ = 10 μM 0.9 424

24 0.7 425

40 0.0 469

63 29 470

39 30 519

48 8 521

0.5 5 522

37 6 523

21 8 524

31 53 552

18 24 553

0.7 18 554

69 43 575

62 1.6 580

75 1.4 581

77 32 582

40 0.7 583

29 0.4 584

48 10 585

48 1.6 701

34 36 703

35 4 704

38 4 705

6 6 706

29 7 707

21 11 708

39 11 709

10 13 710

55 10 711

37 6 712

24 3 713

26 3 730

32 9 731

45 12 750

4 10 751

10 5 752

5 1 753

8 2 754

20 6 755

21 8

Biological Assay Development Using Human 11β-HydroxysteroidDehydrogenase Type 1. Standard Operating Procedure for the11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 Cortisol Radioimmunoassay. 11βHSD1 Cortisol RIA

Reagents: Cortisone, Cortisol (Hydrocortisone), NADPH,Glucose-6-phosphate, Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), Dextran coated charcoal(C6197) and DMSO were obtained from Sigma Aldrich, Carbenoxolone wasobtained from ICN Biomedicals, Product 215493001, ³H-cortisone wasobtained from American Radiolabelled Compounds Inc, Product ART-743,³H-cortisol was obtained from NEN, Product NET 396, ¹⁴C-cortisol wasobtained from NEN, Product NEC 163, human hepatic microsomes wereobtained from XenoTech, product H0610/Lot 0210078, rat hepaticmicrosomes were obtained from XenoTech, SPA beads were obtained fromAmersham, Product RPNQ0017, the Immunoassay kit was obtained from AssayDesigns, Product 900-071, the Immunologicals Direct anti-cortisolantibody was Product OBT 0646, the Sigma anti-cortisol antibody wasProduct C8409 and the Immunotech antibody was supplied by Beckman,Product IMBULK3 6D6.

Buffer Solutions

Buffer 1, from Bart [15]: 30 mM Tris-HCL, pH 7.2, containing 1 mM EDTABuffer 2, from the Sterix protocol: PBS (pH 7.4) containing 0.25Msucrose Buffer 3, from the Sigma RIA protocol: 50 mM Tris-HCL, pH 8,containing 0.1 M NaCL and 0.1% gelatinStop solution, from Barf [15]: 1 mM glycyrrhetinic acid in 100% DMSO

Enzyme assays were carried out in the presence of 181 μM NADPH, 1 mMGlucose-6-Phosphate and cortisone concentrations indicated for eachexperiment.

Enzyme assay buffer: 30 mM Tris-HCL, pH 7.2 containing 1 mM EDTAAntibody binding buffer: 50 mM Tris-HCL, pH 8, containing 0.1 M NaCl and0.1% gelatinCompound preparation: Prepare 10 mM stock solutions in 100% DMSO at 100times the required assay concentration. Dilute into assay buffer 1 in25. Also dilute neat DMSO 1 in 25 into assay buffer for controls.Substrate preparation: Prepare a solution of cortisone in ethanol 600times the required assay concentration (175 nM). Dilute this 1 in 50into assay buffer.Prepare NADPH as a 1.8 mg/ml solution in assay buffer.Prepare G-6-P as a 3.65 mg/ml solution in assay buffer.Mix these 3 solutions 1:1:1 to make a solution of sufficient volume for25 μl additions to each sample. Add 0.5 μCi tritiated cortisone per 25μl and mix the solution well.Microsome preparation: Dilute stock 20 mg/ml solution 1 in 100 withassay buffer.Antibody preparation: Dilute stock antibody solution to 17 μg/ml inantibody binding buffer.Dextran coated charcoal preparation: Make a 20 mg/ml solution inantibody binding buffer and chill on ice.Enzyme assay: To a u-bottom polypropylene 96 well plate add:25 μl compound dilution or diluted DMSO to controls, NSB's and blanks10 μl 1 mM GA in DMSO (enzyme stop solution) to blanks25 μl substrate mixture to all samples50 μl diluted microsomes to all samplesIncubate plate for 30 min at 37° C. shakingAdd 10 μl enzyme stop solution to all wells except the blanksAdd 100 μA antibody solution to all wells except the NSB's, add antibodybinding buffer to these wells

Incubate at 37° C. for 1 h

Chill plate on ice for 15 minAdd 50 μl/well charcoal solution and mix with an 8-channel pipette (4-5aspirations)Chill the plate on ice

Centrifuge at 4° C., 2000×g for 15 min

Transfer 100 μl supernatant into an Optiplate, also add 25 μl substratemixture to 2 empty wells to indicate counting efficiencyAdd 200 μA Microscint-40 to all wells and count on a Topcount

Radioimmunoassay

The 11β HSD1 enzyme assay was carried out following the standardoperating procedure described above in u-bottom polypropylene 96 wellplates or 1.5 ml Eppendorf tubes as indicated for each experiment.Subsequent to stopping the enzyme reaction, 100 μl antibody prepared inbuffer 3 unless otherwise indicated was added to test samples and 100 μlbuffer 3 was added to the NSB samples. The samples were incubated for 1hour at 37° C. and the chilled on ice for 15 mins. Dextran coatedcharcoal (50 μl/sample) prepared to the indicated concentration inbuffer 3 was added and the samples were mixed (vortex for tubes andaspiration 5 times with an 8-channel pipette for 96 well plates) andchilled for a further 10 min. The samples were centrifuged at 2000×g for15 min at 4° C. to pellet the charcoal. Aliquots of the supernatant (100μl) were transferred to an Optiplate and counted on the Topcount in150-200 μl Microscint 40. In some experiments, aliquots of supernatantwere transferred to scintillation vials and counted on the Tricarb LSCin 5 ml Ultima Gold scintillant.

11β HSD1 Assay Development 11β HSD1 TLC Format Assay Separation ofCortison and Cortisol

Prior to performing an enzyme assay, solvent systems reported in theliterature for separation of cortisone from cortisol were investigated[16, 17]. Solutions of cortisone and cortisol at 10 mg/ml were preparedin methanol, and aliquots spotted onto a silica gel TLC plate. The platewas run in CH₂Cl₂: IMS 92:8 v/v (2). The plate was then air dried andsprayed with 0.1% Rhodamine B in methanol to visualise the spots. Thetable below describes the separation obtained.

TABLE 3 Separation of cortisone from cortisol by TLC Distance runSolvent front migration/ Steroid from origin (cm) steroid migration (cm)Cortisone 7.5 2.3 Cortisol 4.5 3.8

This separation was considered adequate for use in an enzyme assay.

The literature details several methods of extracting cortisol fromaqueous solution [16, 17]. In order to select a method for use,[¹⁴C]-labelled cortisol was obtained from NEN. A stock was prepared inphosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 4000 DPM in 50 μl with coldcortisol (1 μg) added as a carrier. The final ethanol concentration was0.4%. Aliquots of this solution were added to glass tubes (100 μl) andthe following extractions were carried out: 1. 1 ml CH₂Cl₂, vortex andpass through phase separating filter paper (Whatman, IPS) 2. 1 ml ethylacetate, vortex and pass through phase separating filter paper 3. 1 mlCH₂Cl₂ and 200 μl 0.05% CaCl₂, vortex, centrifuge (500 g for 5 min) andremove upper aqueous phase 4. 1 ml ethyl acetate and 200 μl 0.05% CaCl₂,vortex, centrifuge (500 g for 5 min) and collect upper organic phase.The organic phases were dried and the residues were taken up in 100 μlIMS. An aliquot of this was spotted onto a TLC plate and the plate runas before. Following visualisation with Rhodamine B, the spots werescraped into scintillation vials and counted on a liquid scintillationcounter (Packard TriCarb) in 5 ml Ultima gold scintillant. Extractionefficiencies were calculated and are given in FIG. 4.

From these results it appears that 90% of the cortisol is lost by phaseseparating filtration. Ethyl acetate appears to extract cortisol moreefficiently than CH₂Cl₂, possibly because the organic phase is easier tocollect. Ethyl acetate appears to be a suitable method of extraction.

Human and Rat Hepatic Microsomal 11β-HSD1 Activity.

11 β-HSD1 activity in rat and human hepatic microsomes was evaluated, todetermine the minimum microsomal protein concentrations required formeasurement of enzyme activity. The experiment was done according to theBradford Method [14]. The assay was performed in Buffer 2 and thecortisone concentration used was 2 μM containing 0.5 μCi [³H]-cortisoneper incubation. Microsomes were tested at concentrations ranging from 50μg to 400 μg protein per incubation in a final incubation volume of 100μl in glass tubes. Samples were incubated for 1 h in a shaking waterbath at 37° C. and the assay was stopped by addition of 1 ml ethylacetate. To correct for recovery, 50 μl [¹⁴C]-cortisol was added to thesamples followed by 200 μl 0.05% CaCl₂. The samples were vortex mixedand centrifuged as described above. The upper organic phase was removedand dried down, and the residue dissolved in 100 μl methanol and 50 μlaliquots were spotted onto TLC plates, which were run as describedabove. Samples were counted on a TriCarb liquid scintillation counterusing a dual label programme. Recovery efficiency was determined fromthe DPM obtained in 50 μl [¹⁴C]-cortisol solution, which was countedwith the samples. Results are shown in FIG. 5.

The 11β-HSD1 activities in rat and human microsomes were similar, 0.7pmol/mg/min and 0.5 pmol/mg/min for rat and human microsomesrespectively. The activity in human microsomes is apparently not relatedto microsomal protein concentration, which may suggest that that theprotein concentration range examined is too high.

Lower human microsome protein concentrations were evaluated; 3.7 μg to100 μg per sample. The time course of activity was also determined, from0 to 60 minutes at 37° C. The extraction conditions were as describedabove. The results from these experiments are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The results shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 demonstrate that enzyme activity islinear at incubation times up to 30 min at all the microsomal proteinconcentrations tested, and that enzyme activity is linear at microsomalprotein concentrations below 30 μg per sample.

The influence of substrate concentration on activity was examined. The[³H]-cortisone concentration was kept constant at 0.5 μCi/sample, andunlabelled cortisone varied from 44 nM to 2 μM. The assay was carriedout with 10 μg microsomal protein per sample with an incubation time of30 minutes at 37° C. The results are shown in FIG. 8. A doublereciprocal plot (Lineweaver-Burke) of these data gives an apparent Kmfor cortisone of 660 nM, FIG. 9.

The standard compounds glycyrrhetinic acid and carbenoxolone wereexamined in this assay system, as part of the validation process. Theassay was performed using 175 nM cortisone substrate, with 10 μgmicrosomal protein and a 30 minute incubation at 37° C., as described byBarr [15]. Although the data in FIGS. 8 and 9 above suggest that thissubstrate concentration is not saturating under these assay conditions.Glycyrrhetinic acid and carbenoxolone were tested at concentrations from0.012 μM to 3 μM, the DMSO concentration was 1% in all samples. Theresults are shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

Glycyrrhetinic acid and carbenoxolone give IC₅₀ values of 40 nM and 119nM respectively. The IC₅₀ reported for carbenoxolone by Barf et al.using the SPA format and recombinant 11β-HSD is 330 nM [15],approximately three-fold less potent. The difference in potency in thetwo assay systems is probably due to the different assay conditions, SPAcompared to tlc end point, and also the enzyme source, native hepaticenzyme compared to recombinant enzyme.

The assay conditions described above support good enzyme activityhowever, which should be transferable to a 96 well plate format.

Development of High Throughput 11β HSD1 Assays

Supply of the antibody used by Barf [15] in the Scintillation Proximityassay (SPA) proved problematic. A sample batch of the antibody (fromImmunotech) was tested for suitability and a second order was placed fora larger quantity. A robust 96 well plate assay using Radioimmunoassay(RIA) format was developed using the Immunotech antibody available, thisis described below.

Immunoassay Format

An Assay Designs enzyme immunoassay system was evaluated as a potentialassay format. The basis of the assay is competition for antibody bindingbetween sample cortisol, generated by 11β-HSD1, and labelled cortisolbinding. The anti-cortisol detection antibody provided in the kit is amouse monoclonal, reported to cross react less than 0.1% with cortisone.The kit is designed for the analysis of cortisol levels in saliva,urine, serum and plasma and also in tissue culture media, rather thanfor determining enzyme activity however.

The 11β-HSD1 enzyme assay conditions described by Barf et al [15] wereused; human hepatic microsomes in Buffer 1 at protein concentrationsfrom 25 μg to 200 μg, cortisone at concentrations from 44 nM to 700 nMincubated for 60 minutes at 37° C. The effect of 0.9% Tween 80 was alsoinvestigated, as this detergent is reported to improve the activity ofenzymes involved in steroid metabolism. Results are shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 12(A) shows the effect of protein. Data taken from the 700 μMcortisone group tested in the presence of Tween-80.

FIG. 12(B) shows the effect of cortisone. Data taken from the 25 μgmicrosomal protein group tested in the presence of Tween-80.

FIG. 12(C) shows the effect of Tween-80. Data taken from the 25 μgmicrosomal protein group tested in the presence of 700 μM cortisone.

The assay detected cortisol in the standard curve (313 pg/ml to 10,000pg/ml) as expected but the signal obtained from the enzyme assay samplesdecreased with increasing microsomal protein concentration, suggestingthat the microsomal protein may interfere with the immunoassay, FIG.12(A). Addition of exogenous cortisone had no effect on levels ofcortisol detected in the enzyme assay samples, suggesting the antibodydoes not cross react with cortisone, FIG. 12(B). Inclusion of detergentin the enzyme assay buffer had little effect, FIG. 12(C).

The assay conditions were varied to determine if it was feasible to usethe immunoassay system to detect 11β-HSD1 activity; 24 μg microsomalprotein per sample and 2 μM cortisone substrate in Buffer 2. Enzymeactivity was also measured in samples following the addition of steroiddisplacement reagent; a kit component which releases cortisol fromcortisol binding protein, if present in the sample. The assay detectedthe cortisol in the standard curve (313 pg/ml to 10,000 pg/ml). FIG. 13shows the absorbance at 405 m obtained for the different groups:

The lowest and highest concentrations of the cortisol standard have beenincluded in FIG. 13 as 313 pg/ml and 1000 pg/ml together with the NSBabsorbance to show the dynamic range obtained in the assay.

Absorbance obtained in the presence of reaction mixture taken fromsamples incubated with microsomal protein (“Enzyme”) are lower thanthose in the presence of reaction mixture not containing microsomalprotein (“No enzyme”) indicating increases in levels of cortisol.

In the presence of the kit steroid displacement reagent (“DR”) these tworeaction mixtures show the same pattern but the signal is depressed.

Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) in the presence of the top concentration ofcortisol standard has no effect on the ability of the kit to measurecortisol concentrations.

Although the signal to background ratio of 2.5 for the assay is ratherpoor, these data demonstrate that the antibody can bind the cortisol:APconjugate and that this can be displaced by cortisol. An experiment wascarried out to examine the effect of increasing microsomal proteinconcentration, in an attempt to improve the signal to noise obtained.Microsomal protein was tested from 100 μg/incubation down to 5μg/incubation using 2 μM cortisone in Buffer 2. All other conditionswere identical to those detailed above. The results are shown in FIG.14.

Decreasing microsomal protein from 10 μg/incubation to 5 μg/incubationresults in a corresponding decrease in enzyme activity. Increasingmicrosomal protein above 10 μg/incubation results in a quenching ofsignal which may be due to the colour of the microsomes. Therefore thedynamic range of this assay cannot be improved by increasing themicrosomal protein concentration.

RIA Development Using Immunotech Antibody

The 11β HSD1 assay was carried out using 10 μg/well human hepaticmicrosomal protein. The Immunotech antibody was used in the RIA atconcentrations from 6.25 μg/well to 25 μg/well, the results are shown inFIG. 15.

The Immunotech antibody worked well in the assay and gave good signal tobackground at all the concentrations tested. The signal to noise with12.5 and 6.1 μg antibody per well was similar suggesting it may bepossible to reduce the antibody concentration.

The antibody titre, at concentrations from 0.67 μg/well to 6.7 μg/well,was examined. The 11β HSD1 assay was carried out using human microsomalprotein at 20 μg/well, to generate the optimum signal to background.Each antibody concentration was tested against a “no enzyme” blank(buffer substituted for microsomes), a “GA blank” (10 μl stop solutionadded prior to microsomes) and a control group. The results are shown inFIGS. 16 and 17.

The saturation curve indicates that there is no difference in thedetection of enzyme activity above 1.68 μg/well. The signal tobackground ratio with this antibody concentration is good, (6 fold).Consequently the antibody will be used at 1.7 μg/well in future assays.

Linearity of enzyme activity with human hepatic microsomal proteinconcentration using RIA detection was examined. The 11β HSD1 assay wascarried with microsomal protein concentrations varying from 1 μg/well to40 μg/well. 11β HSD1 activity was linear with protein up toconcentrations of 20 μg/well, FIG. 18, confirming the results obtainedwith the classical enzyme assay (FIG. 7).

The optimal concentration of human microsomal protein to use in theassay appears to be 10 μg/well.

The effect of including Tween 80 in the enzyme assay buffer was alsoinvestigated. This assay was carried out in parallel with the assayabove and under the same conditions except that the enzyme assay buffer(Buffer 2) contained 0.05% Tween 80. Microsomal protein was tested atfour concentrations. Tween 80 was found to increase the blank CPM,reducing the signal to noise of the assay. Representative data, from thegroup tested 10 μg/well microsomal protein, are shown in FIG. 19.Similar results were obtained with all the microsome proteinconcentrations examined, consequently Tween will not be used in futurestudies.

To simplify the protocol such that both enzyme assay and RIA stages arecarried out in the same buffer, both phases were carried out in eitherenzyme assay buffer (Buffer 2) or Buffer 3 (RIA buffer). The microsomalprotein concentration used was 10 μg/well and the cortisoneconcentration was 175 nM. Performing both enzyme assay and RIA in Buffer3 appears to improve the data slightly, FIG. 20.

Linearity of enzyme activity with incubation time was investigated. Theenzyme assay was carried out with 10 μg/well microsomal protein and with175 nM cortisone, and stopped at varying time points, the results areshown in FIG. 21.

With microsome protein concentrations of 10 μg/well and 175 nMsubstrate, the reaction is linear at time points up to 30 minutes. Theseresults indicate that a substrate concentration of 175 nM is too low.The apparent Km observed in the classical 11β HSD1 assay was 660 nM(FIGS. 8 and 9), although these assays are end-point measurement, henceit is not certain that initial rates were measured in the low substrategroups with a 30 minute incubation time. However, published Km valuesfor cortisone in human hepatic microsomal 11β HSD1 assays are in themicromolar range [18, 19]. Although 175 nM substrate is well below theapparent Km, it may not be possible to increase the concentrationsignificantly for two reasons:

-   -   (i) If the compounds are competitive with cortisone, the        measured inhibition will fall if the substrate is increased        above the concentration used in Refer nc 1.    -   (ii) Increasing the substrate concentration will reduce the        specific activity of the label, reducing the sensitivity of the        assay. This could be overcome by adding higher concentrations of        [³H]-cortisone, but the protocol uses 0.5 μCi/well and there is        a cost implication if higher levels of radioactivity are used.

Substrate saturation was examined. The enzyme assay was carried outexactly described in the methods section, in Buffer 3 with 10 μg/wellmicrosomal protein and with [cold cortisone] as indicated.[3H]-cortisone was 0.5 μCi/sample throughout. The reaction was stoppedafter 30 min by the addition of 10 μl stop solution. The RIA was carriedout exactly as indicated in the methods section. The results are shownin FIGS. 22 and 23.

The apparent Km (700 nM), determined from the Lineweaver-Burke plot ofthese data shown in FIG. 23 is very similar to that determined in thetlc format 11β HSD1 assay (FIG. 9, apparent Km ˜660 nM). The datasuggests that at 10 μg microsomal protein, the enzyme is not saturatedat 175 nM cortisone, over an incubation period of 30 minutes.

Lowering the microsomal protein concentration or the incubation time tobring the reaction within the linear range would partly overcome theproblem. However either of these adjustment adjustments would decreasethe assay sensitivity, and decrease the apparent potency of inhibitors.Consequently the initial experiments were performed with 175 nMcortisone.

11β-HSD1 Assay Validation

Prior to compound testing, the tolerance of the enzyme assay to DMSO wasdetermined. Inclusion of DMSO at 1% in the enzyme assay does not affecttotal or blank values, but slightly increases enzyme activity and thesignal to noise ratio (Table 4). The experiment was repeated over arange of DMSO concentrations from 0.3 to 10%, FIG. 24.

TABLE 4 Control and blank CPM obtain d in the Glycyrrh tinic acid IC₅₀assay showing effect of 1% DMSO and signal to noise ratio obtained.Group 1% DMSO No DMSO NSB 670 661 GA blank 640 660 Control 3515  2583 Signal to noise 5 fold 4 fold

There is a slight increase in microsomal enzyme activity in the presenceof 0.3% and 1% DMSO. At DMSO concentrations above 1%, there is a linearreduction in enzyme activity. It is reported that DMSO can both increaseand reduce microsomal enzyme activity, depending on the concentration,presumably due to effects on the microsomal membranes. On the basis ofthese data, it is intended that compounds be screened in the presence of1% DMSO.

An IC₅₀ value was generated for the standard inhibitor glycyrrhetinicacid, the compound was tested at concentrations between 0.012 μM and 3μM, with a final DMSO concentration of 1%, FIG. 25.

Glycyrrhetinic acid gives a concentration-related inhibition of theenzyme with an IC₅₀ of 41 nM, with good curve fit values (r²=0.962) andHillslope. This is similar to the value of 40 nM generated using the tlcformat assay, (see FIG. 10). An IC₅₀ value of 30 nM has been reportedfor glycyrrhetinic acid inhibition of 11β HSD1 in human hepaticmicrosomes, using dehydro-dexamethasone as the substrate [19]. However,these values are lower than the value reported by Bart et al. [15].

TABLE 5 Inhibition Data % inhibition of Human 11β HSD1 STX No. Structure@ 10 μM typical sd ± 5% N = 2 976

110 993

89 994

83 1029

78 984

73 995

68 469

66 1018

66 986

65 1020

64 996

63 987

62 1030

61 523

61 992

61 985

61 977

61 1019

61 521

60 978

60 1017

60 998

58 585

58 999

55 1021

54 470

54 554

53 982

53 991

51 997

51 575

50 709

49 553

48 519

48 424

47 522

47 552

45 975

45 989

45 704

44 524

44 421

42 425

41 701

41 981

40 703

37 412

36 710

35 582

34 580

30 413

29 581

29 583

28 705

28 831

28 751

22 708

21 584

20

Sulphonamide Synthesis Method A

To the amine (1 eq.) dissolved in pyridine (3 eq.) was added thecorresponding sulphonyl chloride (1.2 eq.) and the reaction mixture wasstirred at RT under N₂ overnight. The resulting mixture was poured intoaq. HCl and the organic layer was extracted with ethyl acetate, dried(MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to give thedesired sulphonamide as crystalline solid or as a thick syrup. The crudecompound was then purified by flash chromatography using EtOAc/hexane(3:2) or CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1) as eluent to give crystalline solid.

Method B

To the amine (1 eq.) dissolved in Et₃N (5 eq.) was added thecorresponding sulphonyl chloride (1.2 eq.) and the reaction mixture wasstirred at RT under N₂ overnight. The resulting mixture was poured intowater and the organic layer was extracted with ethyl acetate, dried(MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to give thedesired sulphonamide as crystalline solid or as a thick syrup. The crudecompound was then purified by flash chromatography using EtOAc/hexane(3:2) or CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1) as eluent to give crystalline solid.

Note: Insoluble amines and sulphonyl chlorides were dissolved in minimumamount of CH₂Cl₂, THF or DMF.

Method C

To a solution Arylsulphonyl chloride (1.1 eq.) in DCM were addedPyridine (2.2 eq.) and catalytic amount of DMAP. The solution wasstirred at room temperature under nitrogen for 10 minutes. Then theamine (1 eq.) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at roomtemperature under nitrogen for 4-16 hrs. The resulting mixture waspartitioned between DCM and 5% sodium bicarbonate. The organic layer waswashed with brine, dried over MgSO₄, and concentrated to give a solid ora thick syrup. The crude compound was then purified by flashchromatography to give desired arylsulphonamide as crystalline solid.

DGS03020A (STX412)

Synthesised by method A. Off-white crystals of DGS03020A (186 mg; 55%).mp 189-190° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.68 EtOAc/Hexane (3:2); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ2.80 (s, 3H, CH₃), 7.13 (s, 1H, N—H, exchanged with D₂O), 7.212 (dd, 1H,Ar—H, J=2.34 Hz and 8.59 Hz), 7.27 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz and 8.59Hz), 7.51 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.65 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.69(d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.91 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz); MS (FAB+) 372.9[100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 372.9627, C₁₄H₁₀ ³⁵Cl₂N₂O₂S₂ requires372.9639, 376.9574, C₁₄H₁₀ ³⁷Cl₂N₂O₂S₂ requires 376.9580; HPLC t_(r)3.65 min (92:08=MeOH: H₂O).

DGS03022A (STX413)

Synthesised by method A. Off-white crystals of DGS03022A (233 mg; 72%).mp 178° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.71 EtOAc/Hexane (3:2); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 2.75(s, 3H, CH₃), 2.80 (s, 3H, CH₃), 6.75 (s, 1H, N—H, exchanged with D₂O),7.11 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz and 8.59 Hz), 7.17-7.21 (m, 1H, Ar—H),7.53 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.17 Hz), 7.55 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.68 (d,1H, Ar—H, J=8.20 Hz), 7.92 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.17 Hz and 7.81 Hz); MS(FAB+) 164.1 [35, (5-Amino-2-methyl benzothiazole)⁺], 353.0 [100,(M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 353.0176, C₁₅H₁₄ ³⁵ClN₂O₂S₂ requires 353.0185,355.0155, C₁₅H₁₄ ³⁷ClN₂O₂S₂ requires 355.0156; HPLC t_(r) 3.78 min(92:08=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03024A (STX421)

Synthesised by method A. White crystals of DGS03024A (240 mg; 76%). mp133-134° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.7 EtOAc/Hexane (3:2); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 0.90(t, 3H, CH₃ CH₂CH₂, J=7.42 Hz), 1.56-1.66 (m, 2H, CH₃ CH₂ CH₂), 2.59 (t,2H, CH₃CH₂ CH₂ , J=7.42 Hz), 2.80 (s, 3H, CH₃), 6.71 (s, 1H, N—H,exchanged with D₂O), 7.17 (d 1H, Ar—H, J=2.34 Hz and 8.59 Hz),7.201-7.214 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 7.218-7.223 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 7.57 (d, 1H, Ar—H,J=2.34 Hz), 7.76-7.69 (m, 3H, Ar—H); MS (FAB+) 347.1 [100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMSm/z (FAB+) 347.0881, C₁₇H₁₉N₂O₂S₂ requires 347.0887; HPLC t_(r) 3.69 min(92:08=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03034A (STX424)

Synthesised by method A. White crystals of DGS03034A (262 mg; 86%). mp152° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.48 EtOAc/Hexane (3:2); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 10.31 (s,1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 7.85 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.66-7.69 (m, 2H,Ar—H), 7.57 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.11 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.34 Hz and8.59 Hz), 7.02-7.05 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 3.76 (s, 3H, OCH₃), 2.73 (s, 3H,CH₃); MS (FAB+) 164.0[25 (Amine SM⁺)], 335.0 [100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z(FAB+) 335.0519, C₁₅H₁₅N₂O₃S₂ requires 335.0524; HPLC t_(r) 1.94 min(80:20=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03036A (STX425)

Synthesised by method A. White crystals of DGS03036A (136 mg; 42%). mp295-296° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.56 EtOAc/Hexane (3:2); ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ10.66 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 7.87 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.52 (d,1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.32-7.44 (m, 3H, Ar—H), 7.12 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.3Hz and 8.59 Hz), 2.73 (s, 3H, CH₃), 2.64 (s, 3H, CH₃); MS (FAB+) 164.0[40, (Starting amine)⁺], 353.0 [100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 353.0187,C₁₆H₁₄ ³⁵ClN₂O₂S₂ requires 353.0185, 355.0165, C₁₅H₄ ³⁷ClN₂O₂S₂ requires355.0155; HPLC t_(r) 1.94 min (80:20=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03058A (STX519)

Synthesised by method A. White crystals of DGS03058A (199 mg; 57%). mp172° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.56 EtOAc/Hexane (3:2); ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 10.53(s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 7.88 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.74-7.77 (m,2H, Ar—H), 7.64-7.68 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 7.58 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.11(dd, 1H, Ar—H, J. 1.95 Hz and 8.59 Hz), 2.74 (s, 3H, CH₃); MS (FAB+)384.9 [100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 384.9494, C₁₄H₁₂ ⁸¹BrN₂O₂S₂requires 384.9503, 382.9501, C₁₄H₁₂ ⁷⁹BrN₂O₂S₂ requires 382.9523; HPLCt_(r) 2.64 min (90:10=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03062B (STX469)

To a stirred solution of DGS03022A (50 mg, 0.14 mmol, 1 eq.) in anhy.DMF (5 ml) and NaH (7 mg, 0.16 mmol, 1.1 eq.) was added MeI (3 ml, 0.21mmol, 1.5 eq.) and the mixture was stirred for 1 h. The resultingmixture was poured into water and the organic layer was extracted withethyl acetate, dried (MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated under reducedpressure to give a yellow suspension. The crude compound (70 mg) waspurified by flash chromatography using EtOAc/hexane (3:2) as eluent togive white crystals of DGS03062A (36 mg; 69%). mp 97-98° C.; TLC R_(f):0.61 EtOAc/Hexane (3:2); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.73 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.17 Hzand 7.81 Hz), 7.37 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.59 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95Hz), 7.49 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.17 Hz and 8.2 Hz), 7.24 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J.2.34 Hz and 8.59 Hz), 7.11-7.15 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 3.24 (s, 3H, CH₃), 2.76(s, 3H, CH₃), 2.35 (s, 3H, CH₃); MS (FAB+) 366.9 [100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z(FAB+) 366.0262, C₁₆H₁₅ ³⁵ClN₂O₂S₂ requires 366.0262, 368.0300, C₁₆H₁₅³⁷ClN₂O₂S₂ requires 368.0234; HPLC t_(r) 1.93 min (96:04=MeOH :H₂O).

DGS03072A (STX470)

To a stirred solution of DGS03022A (50 mg, 0.14 mmol, 1 eq.) in anhy.DMF (5 ml) and NaH (10 mg, 0.16 mmol, 1.1 eq.) was added Etl (23 mg,0.21 mmol, 1.5 eq.) and the mixture was stirred for 1 h. The resultingmixture was poured into water and the organic layer was extracted withethyl acetate, dried (MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated under reducedpressure to give a yellow suspension. The crude compound (75 mg) waspurified by flash chromatography using EtOAc/hexane (3:2) as eluent togive a pale yellow thick syrup of DGS03072A (16 mg; 30%). TLC R_(f):0.71 EtOAc/Hexane (3:2); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.76-7.78 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 7.66(m, 1H, Ar—H), 7.53-7.55 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 7.27-7.28 (m, 1H, Ar—H),7.14-7.18 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 7.11-7.18 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 5.30 (s, 1H, NH, Ex.with D₂O), 3.74 (q, 2H, Ar—H, J=7.42 Hz and 7.03 Hz), 2.83 (s, 3H, CH₃),2.53 (s, 3H, CH₃), 1.12 (t, 3H, CH₃, J=7.03 Hz), MS (FAB+) 381.1 [100,(M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 381.1062, C₁₇H₁₇ ³⁵ClN₂O₂S₂ requires 381.1058,385.0952, C₁₇H₁₇ ³⁷ClN₂O₂S₂ requires 385.0949.

DGS03082A (STX521)

Synthesised by method A. White crystals of DGS03082A (230 mg; 67%). mp85-86° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.64 EtOAc/Hexane (3:2); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 10.54(s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 7.87 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.84 (broad s,4H, Ar—H), 7.67-7.69 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 7.62 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz),7.39-7.49 (m, 3H, Ar—H), 7.17 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz and 8.59 Hz),2.73 (s, 3H, CH₃); MS (FAB+) 381.2 [100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+)381.0730, C₂₀H₁₇N₂O₂S₂ requires 381.0731; HPLC t_(r) 1.36 min(96:04=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03084A (STX522)

Synthesised by method A. Yellow crystals of DGS03084A (46 mg; 10%). mp253-254° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.74 EtOAc/Hexane (3:2); ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ11.09 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. with D₂O), 7.91 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.86 (s,2H, Ar—H), 7.59 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.34 Hz), 7.15 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hzand 8.59 Hz), 2.74 (s, 3H, CH₃); MS (FAB+) 409.1 [100, (M+H)⁺]; MS(FAB−) 407.0 [100, (M−H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 406.9176, C₁₄H₁₉ ³⁵Cl₃N₂O₂S₂requires 406.9167, 408.9136, C₁₄H₁₉ ³⁷Cl₃N₂O₂S₂ requires 408.9140.

DGS03086A (STX523)

Synthesised by method A. Pale yellow crystals of DGS03086A (101 mg;57%). mp 219° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.71 EtOAc/Hexane (3:2); ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ10.68 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 7.87 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.79 (d,1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.64 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.54-7.57 (m, 2H,Ar—H), 7.11 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.34 Hz and 8.59 Hz), 2.73 (s, 3H, CH₃),2.59 (s, 3H, CH₃); MS (FAB+) 399.0 [100, (M+H)⁺], 164.1 [50, (Startingamine)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 398.9663, C₁₅H₁₃ ⁸¹BrN₂O₂S₂ requires 398.9569,396.9684, C₁₆H₁₃ ⁷⁹BrN₂O₂S₂ requires 396.9680; HPLC t_(r) 1.39 min(96:04=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03064

2,4-Dichloro benzoic acid (10 g, 0.0523 mol, 1 eq.) was heated to 115°C. with excess chlorosulphonic acid (10.5 mL, 0.1571 mol, 3 eq.) underN₂ for 18 h. The resulting mixture was cooled and consciously pouredinto ice-water. The resulted white precipitate was filtered out, washedwith plenty of water and dried under vacuum over night. The crudeDGS03064 (11.5 g, 76%) was used for the subsequent reaction withoutfurther purification. mp 173-174° C.; TLC R_(f); 0.48 (4:1,CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 8.28 (1H, s, Ar—H), 7.65 (1H, s, Ar—H);MS m/z (FAB+) 286.9 [100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 287.8798, C₇H₃³⁵Cl₃O₄S requires 287.8818, 291.8755, C₇H₃ ³⁷Cl₃O₄S requires 291.8759.

DGS03088A (STX524)

Synthesised by method B. Two compounds were isolated—DGS03088A andDGS03088A. White crystals of DGS03088A (48 mg; 13%). mp 153-155° C.; TLCR_(f): 0.79 EtOAc/Hexane (3:2); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 8.31 (s, 1H, NH, Ex.With D₂O), 8.07 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 8.07 (s, 1H, Ar—H), 7.71-7.79(m, 4H, Ar—H), 7.67 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.58 (s, 1H, Ar—H), 7.27(dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.72 Hz and 8.59 Hz), 2.83 (s, 3H, CH₃), 2.79 (s, 3H,CH₃); MS (FAB+) 562.9 [100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 562.9825, C₂₃H₁₇³⁵Cl₂N₄O₃S₃ requires 562.9839, 566.9778, C₂₃H₁₇ ³⁷Cl₂N₄O₃S₃ requires566.9781; HPLC t_(r) 1.33 min (96:04=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03088-1 (STX575)

White crystals of DGS03088-1 (31 mg; 12%). mp 147-148° C.; TLC R_(f):0.45 EtOAc/Hexane (3:2); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 8.45 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. WithD₂O), 8.17 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.09 Hz), 8.04 (s, 1H, Ar—H), 7.77 (s, 1H,Ar—H), 7.50 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.83 Hz), 7.35 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.83 Hz and8.05 Hz), 2.85 (s, 3H, CH₃); LC-MS 418.1 [100, (M⁺)]; HPLC t_(r) 1.97min (96:04=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03100A (STX552)

Synthesised by method B. White crystals of DGS03100A (224 mg; 69%). mp222-223° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.56 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ10.27 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 9.16-9.17 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 8.48-8.51 (m,2H, Ar—H), 8.36-8.38 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 8.23-8.25 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 7.67-7.34(m, 3H, Ar—H), 7.51-7.12 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 7.09-7.12 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 2.67(s, 3H, CH₃); LC-MS 355.7 [(M)⁺]; MS (FAB+) 356.0 [100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMSm/z (FAB+) 356.0531, C₁₇H₁₄N₃O₂S₂ requires 356.0527; HPLC t_(r) 1.86 min(96:04=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03102A (STX553)

Synthesised by method B. Pale yellow crystals of DGS03102A (170 mg;52%). mp 89-90° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.55 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆)δ 10.87 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 8.28-8.24 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 8.06-8.22(m, 2H, Ar—H), 8.05 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.20 Hz), 7.60-7.77 (m, 2H, Ar—H),7.47 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.04 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz and 8.59Hz), 2.69 (s, 3H, CH₃); MS (FAB+) 355.0 [100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+)355.0576, C₁₈H₁₅N₂O₂S₂ requires 355.0575; HPLC t_(r) 1.93 min(96:04=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03104A (STX554)

Synthesised by method B. Yellow crystals of DGS03104A (230 mg; 63%). mp85-86° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.65 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 10.84(s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 8.40-8.42 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 8.22-8.23 (m, 1H,Ar—H), 7.76-7.78 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 7.58-7.65 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 7.51-7.56 (m,1H, Ar—H), 7.23-7.25 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 7.05-7.07 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 2.79 (s,6H, 2×CH₃), 2.69 (s, 3H, CH₃); MS (FAB+) 398.1 [100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z(FAB+) 398.0978, C₂₀H₂₀N₃O₂S₂ requires 398.0997; HPLC t_(r) 2.01 min(96:04=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03116A (STX580)

Synthesised by method B. Pale yellow crystals of DGS03116A (151 mg;44%). mp 153° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.55 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ10.96 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 8.00 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.34 Hz), 7.90 (d,1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.66-7.73 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 7.58 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.34Hz), 7.17 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.34 Hz and 8.59 Hz), 2.74 (s, 3H, CH₃); MS(FAB+) 372.8 [100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 375.9599, C₁₄H₁₁ ³⁷Cl₂N₂O₂S₂requires 375.9502, 372.9606, C₁₄H₁₁ ³⁵Cl₂N₂O₂S₂ requires 372.9639; HPLCt_(r) 2.98 min (90:10=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03118A (STX581)

Synthesised by method B. White crystals of DGS03118A (416 mg; 42%). mp88-89° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.49 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 10.47(s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 7.74 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.58-7.61 (m,2H, Ar—H), 7.35-7.38 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 7.13-7.17 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 4.76-4.78(m, 2H, CH₂), 3.75-3.79 (m, 2H, CH₂), 2.90-2.93 (m, 2H, CH₂), 2.73 (s,3H, CH₃); MS (FAB+) 456.0 [100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 456.0663,C₁₉H₁₇F₃N₃O₃S₂ requires 456.0663; HPLC t_(r) 1.63 min (96:04=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03120A (STX582)

Synthesised by method B. Pale yellow crystals of DGS03120A (185 mg;55%). mp 91-92° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.51 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆)δ 10.35 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 7.85 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.98 Hz), 7.69(d, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.34 Hz), 7.61 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.73 Hz and 8.98 Hz),7.55 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.73 Hz), 7.20 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.98 Hz), 7.15 (dd,1H, Ar—H, J=2.3 Hz and 8.59 Hz), 3.89 (s, 3H, OCH₃), 2.73 (s, 3H, CH₃);MS (FAB+) 369.0 [100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 371.0114, C₁₅H₁₄³⁷ClN₂O₃S₂ requires 371.0105, 369.0135, C₁₅H₁₄ ³⁵ClN₂O₃S₂ requires369.0134; HPLC t_(r) 1.68 min (96:04=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03122A (STX731)

Synthesised by method B. Two compounds were isolated—DGS03122A andDGS03122B. Yellow crystals of DGS03122A (67 mg; 22%). mp 272-273° C.;TLC R_(f): 0.59 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 8.15 (m, 5H,Ar—H), 8.02-8.09 (m, 4H, Ar—H), 7.74 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.3 Hz), 7.14 (dd,1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz and 8.59 Hz), 2.84 (s, 3H, CH₃); MS (FAB+) 495.0[100, (M+H)⁺]; HPLC t_(r) 1.79 min (90:10=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03122B (STX583)

Yellow crystals of DGS03122B (47 mg; 16%). mp 204-206° C.; TLC R_(f):0.48 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 10.95 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. WithD₂O), 8.03-8.07 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 7.86-7.91 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 7.77-7.81 (m,1H, Ar—H), 7.55 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.12 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.34 Hzand 8.59 Hz), 2.74 (s, 3H, CH₃); MS (FAB+) 330.0 [100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z(FAB+) 330.0370, C₁₅H₁₂N₃O₂S₂ requires 330.0371; HPLC t, 1.84 min(90:10=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03124A (STX584)

Synthesised by method B. Pale yellow crystals of DGS03124A (125 mg;55%). mp 188-189° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.37 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ 10.09 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 7.81 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59Hz), 7.63 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.20 Hz), 7.56 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.14(dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz and 8.59 Hz), 6.96 (s, 1H, Ar—H), 6.81 (d, 1H,Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 3.87 (s, 3H, OCH₃), 2.72 (s, 3H, CH₃), 2.28 (s, 3H,CH₃); MS (FAB+) 219.1 [20, (sulphonyl chloride-H)⁺], 349.0 [100,(M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 349.0678, C₁₆H₁₇N₂O₃S₂ requires 349.0681; HPLCt, 1.80 min (96:04=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03126A (STX585)

Synthesised by method B. Pale yellow crystals of DGS03126A (145 mg;40%). mp 84-86° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.71 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆)δ 10.42 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 7.88 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz),7.73-7.77 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 7.59 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.41-7.46 (m,2H, Ar—H), 7.22-7.26 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 7.13 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz and2.34 Hz), 7.02-7.10 (m, 4H, Ar—H), 2.75 (s, 3H, CH₃); MS (FAB+) 397.0[100, (M+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 397.0671, C₂₀H₁₇N₂O₃S₂ requires 397.0681;HPLC t_(r) 1.93 min (96:04=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03130A (STX730)

Synthesised by method B. Two compounds were isolated—DGS03130A andDGS03130B. Synthesised by method B. Pale yellow crystals of DGS03130A(105 mg; 33%). mp 125-126° C.; TLC l f: 0.55 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ 8.21-8.24 (m, 4H, Ar—H), 8.13 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz),7.99-8.03 (m, 4H, Ar—H), 7.57 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.03 (dd, 1H,Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz and 1.95 Hz), 2.82 (s, 3H, CH₃); 2.69 (s, 6H, 2×CH₃); MS(FAB+) 529.0 [100, (M+H)⁺]; MS (FAB−) 527.1 [70, (M−H)⁺], 345.0 [100,(M-2-Acetyl sulphonyl chloride)']; HPLC t_(r) 1.81 min (96:04=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03130B (STX701)

Pale yellow crystals of DGS03130A (45 mg; 14%). mp 169° C.; TLC R_(f):0.42 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 10.63 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. WithD₂O), 8.04-8.07 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 7.86-7.89 (m, 3H, Ar—H), 7.59 (d, 1H,Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.13 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.9 Hz and 2.3 Hz), 3.73 (s, 3H,CH₃); 2.56 (s, 3H, CH₃); MS (FAB+) 347.0 [100, (M+H)⁺], 219.1 [10,(sulphonyl chloride+H)⁺]; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 347.0522, C₁₆H₁₅N₂O₃S₂requires 347.0524; HPLC t_(r) 1.77 min (96:04=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03134A (STX703)

Synthesised by method B. Pale yellow crystals of DGS03134A (91 mg; 23%).mp 206-207° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.81 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ10.37 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 7.87 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.46 (d,1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.19 (s, 2H, Ar—H), 7.07 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hzand 1.95 Hz), 4.13-4.20 (m, 2H, 2×(CH₃)₂ H), 2.83-2.89 (m, 1H, (CH₃)₂H), 2.72 (s, 3H, CH₃), 1.15 (d, 12H, 4×(CH₃)₂, J=7.03 Hz), 1.11 (d, 9H,2×(CH₃)₂, J=6.64 Hz); LC-MS 429.72 (M)⁺; HPLC t_(r) 2.84 min(90:10=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03136A (STX704)

Synthesised by method B. Pale yellow crystals of DGS03136A (225 mg;71%). mp 54-55° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.50 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ7.65 (m, 3H, Ar—H), 7.58 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.34 Hz), 7.18 (dd, 1H, Ar—H,J=8.6 Hz and 1.95 Hz), 6.84-6.85 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 6.82 (s, 1H, NH, Ex.With D₂O), 4.51-4.60 (m, 1H, (CH₃)₂ H), 2.80 (s, 3H, CH₃), 1.31 (s, 6H,(CH₃)₂); LC-MS 347.6 (M)⁺; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 347.0847, C₁₇H₁₉N₂O₂S₂requires 347.0837; HPLC t_(r) 2.39 min (90:10=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03138B (STX705)

Synthesised by method B. Pale yellow crystals of DGS03138B (24 mg; 7%).mp 248° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.52 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 8.18(d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 8.15 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.89-8.04 (m,4H, Ar—H), 7.51 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.20 Hz and 1.95 Hz), 7.27 (s, 1H, NH,Ex. With D₂O), 2.89 (s, 3H, CH₃), 1.59 (s, 3H, CH₃); LC-MS 372.90(M+CH₃CN)⁺; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 371.2281, C₁₆H₁₅N₂O₄S₂ requires 371.2278;HPLC t_(r) 2.22 min (90:10=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03140A (STX711)

Synthesised by method B. Brown crystals of DGS03140A (85 mg; 26%). mp73-75° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.59 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.85 (d,1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.80 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.68 (s, 1H, NH,Ex. With D₂O), 7.57 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.54 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. WithD₂O), 7.24 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.34 Hz), 7.18 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.20 Hz and1.95 Hz), 7.03 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz and 2.34 Hz), 6.77 (dd, 1H,Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz and 2.34 Hz), 2.78 (s, 3H, CH₃), 2.24 (s, 3H, CH₃);LC-MS 362.32 (M)⁺; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 361.0587, C₁₆H₁₆N₃O₃S₂ requires361.0636; HPLC t_(r) 2.09 min (90:10=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03142A (STX706)

Synthesised by method B. Pale yellow crystals of DGS03142A (79 mg; 24%).mp 89-91° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.65 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.78(d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.20 Hz), 7.61 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.56 Hz), 6.98 (dd, 1H,Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz and 8.20 Hz), 6.93 (s, 1H, Ar—H), 6.92 (s, 1H, NH, Ex.With D₂O), 3.99 (s, 6H, 2×CH₃), 3.93 (s, 6H, 2×CH₃), 2.85 (s, 3H, CH₃);LC-MS 361.48 (M)⁺; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 361.1605, C₁₈H₂₁N₂O₂S₂ requires361.1606; HPLC t_(r) 2.26 min (90:10=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03144A (STX707)

Synthesised by method B. Pale yellow crystals of DGS03144A (79 mg; 24%).mp 89-91° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.69 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.70(d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.58 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.34 Hz), 7.39 (dd, 1H,Ar—H, J=2.34 Hz and 8.59 Hz), 7.19 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.17 (t,1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 6.83 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 6.59 (s, 1H, NH,Ex. With D₂O), 3.89 (s, 3H, OCH₃), 3.76 (s, 3H, OCH₃), 2.81 (s, 3H,CH₃); LC-MS 363.02 (M)⁺; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 365.0642, C₁₆H₁₇N₂O₄S₂ requires365.0585; HPLC t_(r) 2.15 min (90:10=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03146A (STX708)

Synthesised by method B. Pale yellow crystals of DGS03146A (181 mg;51%). mp 175° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.57 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ7.71 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.3 Hz and 8.98 Hz), 7.59 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95Hz), 7.43 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.98 Hz), 7.21 (dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz and8.59 Hz), 6.67 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 2.81 (s, 3H, OCH₃), 1.59 (s,6H, 2×CH₃), 1.29 (s, 6H, 2×CH₃); LC-MS 377.01 (M)⁺; HRMS m/z (FAB+)377.0988, C₁₈H₂₁N₂O₃S₂ requires 377.0994; HPLC t_(r) 2.53 min(90:10=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03148A (STX709)

Synthesised by method B. Off-white crystals of DGS03148A (102 mg; 31%).mp 214-215° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.62 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ7.71-7.73 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 7.60-7.61 (m, 1H, Ar—H), 7.44-7.46 (m, 2H,Ar—H), 7.21-7.24 (m, 2H, Ar—H), 6.61 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 2.83 (s,3H, CH₃), 1.31 (s, 9H, (CH₃)₃); LC-MS 360.12 (M)⁺; HRMS m/z (FAB+)361.1057, C₁₈H₂₁N₂O₃S₂ requires 361.1044; HPLC t_(r) 2.67 min(90:10=MeOH: H₂O).

DGS03150A (STX710)

Synthesised by method B. Pale yellow crystals of DGS03150A (101 mg;30%). mp 200-201° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.50 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃)δ 7.65 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.44 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz), 7.09(dd, 1H, Ar—H, J=1.95 Hz and 8.59 Hz), 6.75 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O),2.79 (s, 3H, CH₃), 2.57 (s, 6H, 2×CH₃), 2.24 (s, 3H, CH₃), 2.19 (s, 6H,2×CH₃); LC-MS 374.10 (M)⁺; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 375.1195, C₁₉H₂₃N₂O₂S₂requires 375.1201; HPLC t_(r) 3.15 min (80:20=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03152A (STX712)

Synthesised by method B. Pale yellow crystals of DGS03152A (120 mg;33%). mp 181-182° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.65 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃)δ 7.63 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.59 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.3 Hz), 7.22 (dd,1H, Ar—H, J=2.3 Hz and 8.59 Hz), 4.91 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 3.82(s, 3H, CH₃); LC-MS 392.96 (M)⁺; HRMS m/z (FAB+) 394.9941, C₁₄H₈F₅N₂O₂S₂requires 394.9947; HPLC t_(r) 2.49 min (90:10=MeOH:H₂O).

DGS03158A (STX713)

Synthesised by method B. Yellow crystals of DGS03158A (158 mg; 40%). mp334-335° C.; TLC R_(f): 0.47 CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc (4:1); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.65(d, 1H, Ar—H, J=8.59 Hz), 7.47 (d, 1H, Ar—H, J=2.3 Hz), 7.10 (dd, 1H,Ar—H, J=2.3 Hz and 8.59 Hz), 6.69 (s, 1H, NH, Ex. With D₂O), 2.79 (s,3H, CH₃), 2.61 (t, 2H, CH₂, J=6.64 Hz), 2.55 (s, 3H, CH₃), 2.51 (s, 3H,CH₃), 2.08 (s, 3H, CH₃), 1.79 (t, 2H, CH₂, J=7.03 Hz), 1.29 (s, 6H,2×CH₃); LC-MS 431.11 (M)⁺; HPLC t_(r) 3.24 min (90:10=MeOH:H₂O).

Synthesis of Benzothiazole Arylsulphonamide Derivatives

General Method for the Preparation of N-Benzothiazol BenzenesulphonamideDerivatives:

To a solution arylsulphonyl chloride (1.1 eq.) in DCM (5-10 mL) wereadded pyridine (2.2 eq.) and catalytic amount of DMAP. The solution wasstirred at room temperature under nitrogen for 10 minutes. Then theamine (1 eq.) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at roomtemperature under nitrogen for 4-16 hrs. The resulting mixture waspartitioned between DCM and 5% sodium bicarbonate. The organic layer waswashed with brine, dried over MgSO₄, and concentrated to give a yellowresidue. The crude compound was then purified by flash chromatography togive desired benzenesulphonamide as crystalline solid. (Yield 40-90%).

Synthesis of 2-Alkylsulfanyl-benzothiazol-6-yl-amine

To a solution of 6-amino-2-merceptobenzothiazole (273 mg, 1.5 mmol) inanhydrous THF (10 mL) was added NaH (60% dispersion, 1.5 mmol), followedby alkyl halide (1.5 mmol). The mixture was stirred at rt for 24 h,partitioned between ethyl acetate and 5% sodium bicarbonate. The organicphase was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulphate and concentratedin vacuo to a yellow solid, which was purified with recrystallization orflash chromatography. (Yield 60-90%).

The following amines were synthesized with the method described above:

2-Ethylsulfanylbenzothiazol-6-ylamine

Yellow crystalline solid. mp 77-78° C. (lit. 77° C.). TLC single spot atR_(f) 0.78 (8% methanol/DCM); ¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.50 (1H, d,J=8.5 Hz, 4-H), 6.98 (1H, d, J=2.2 Hz, 7-H), 6.69 (1H, dd, J=8.5, 2.2Hz, 5-H), 5.33 (2H, broad, NH₂), 3.23 (2H, q, J=7.3 Hz, SCH₂), 1.35 (3H,t, J=7.3 Hz, CH₃).

-   (Francolor, S. A.; US 2500093; 1945)

2-(2-Methoxyethylsulfanyl)-benzothiazol-6-ylamine

Yellow thick syrup. TLC single spot at R_(f) 65 (30% ethyl acetate/DCM);¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.49 (1H, d, J=8.8 Hz, 4-H), 6.97 (1H, d,J=2.2 Hz, 7-H), 6.69 (1H, dd, J=8.8, 2.2 Hz, 5-H), 5.34 (2H, broad,NH₂), 3.63 (2H, t, J=6.3 Hz, CH₂), 3.43 (2H, t, J=6.3 Hz, CH₂), 3.26(3H, s, CH₃).

(6-aminobenzothiazol-2-ylmercapto)-acetic acid ethylester

Off white solid. mp 87-89° C. (lit. 92° C., [20]); TLC single spot atR_(f) 0.72 (8% methanol/DCM); ¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.48 (1H, d,J=8.7 Hz, 4-H), 7.01 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz, 7-H), 6.71 (1H, dd, J. 8.7, 1.8Hz, 5-H), 5.58 (2H, broad, NH₂), 4.17 (2H, s, SCH₂), 4.12 (2H, t, J=7.3Hz, CH₂), 1.19 (3H, t, J. 7.3 Hz, CH₃).

The Following Compounds were Synthesized with the General Method forN-Benzothiazole Benzenesulphonamide:

3-Chloro-N-(2-ethylsulfanylbenzothiazol-6-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX751, XDS01141)

Off-white solid (220 mg; 55%). TLC single spot at R_(f:) 0.83 (17%EtOAc/DCM); HPLC purity 96% (t_(R) 1.9 min in methanol); ‘FNMA (400 MHz,DMSO-d₆) δ 10.8 (1H, s, NH), 7.89 (1H, dd, J=8.0, 1.0 Hz, 6’-H ofbenzene), 7.71 (1H, d, J. 8 Hz, 4-H of benzothiazole), 7.70 (1H, d, J=2Hz, 7-H of benzothiazole), 7.70 (1H, dd, J=8.0, 1.0 Hz, 4′-H ofbenzene), 7.36 (1H, t, J=8 Hz, 5′-H of benzene), 7.15 (1H, dd, J=8.0,2.0 Hz, 5-H of benzothiazole), 3.30 (2H, q, J=7.0 Hz, SCH₂), 2.66 (3H,s, CH₃), 1.38 (3H, t, J=7.0 Hz, CH₃); APCI-MS 397.99 (M)⁺; FAB-HRMScalcd for C₁₆H¹⁶ClN₂O₂S₃ (MH⁺) 399.0062. Found 399.0048.

[6-(3-Chloro-2-methylbenzenesulphonylamino)-benzothiazol-2-ylsulfanyl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (STX752, XDS01142)

White crystalline solid (210 mg; 46%). TLC single spot at R_(f): 0.69(17% EtOAc/DCM); HPLC purity 99% (t_(R) 2.9 min in 10% water-methanol);¹HNMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.8 (1H, s, SO₂NH), 7.88 (1H, dd, J=8.0, 1.0Hz, 6′-H of benzene), 7.72 (1H, d, J=2.0 Hz, 7-H of benzothiazole), 7.69(1H, dd, J=8.0, 1.0 Hz, 4′-H of benzene), 7.68 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz, 4-H ofbenzothiazole), 7.36 (1H, t, J=8.0 Hz, 5′-H of benzene), 7.15 (1H, dd,J=8.0, 2.0 Hz, 5-H of benzothiazole), 4.25 (2H, s, 2-SCH₂—), 4.13 (2H,q, J=7.1 Hz, COOCH₂), 2.64 (3H, s, CH₃), 1.17 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz, 2-COOCH₂CH₃ ); APCI-MS 456.0 (M)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₈H₁₈ClN₂O₄S₃ (MH⁺)457.0117. Found 457.0109.

3-Chloro-N-[2-(2-methoxyethylsulfanyl)-benzothiazol-6-yl]-2-methylbenznesulphonamide (STX754, XDS01144)

Off-White solid (150 mg; 77%). TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.60 (17%EtOAc/DCM); HPLC purity 94% (t_(R) 3.1 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR(400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.8 (1H, s, SO₂NH), 7.88 (1H, dd, J=8, 1 Hz, 6′-Hof benzene), 7.71 (1H, d, J=8 Hz , 4-H of benzothiazole), 7.70 (1H, dd,J=8, 1 Hz, 4′-H of benzene), 7.69 (1H, d, J=2 Hz, 7-H of benzothiazole),7.36 (1H, t, J=8 Hz, 5′-H of benzene), 7.15 (1H, dd, J=8, 2 Hz, 5-H ofbenzothiazole), 3.64 (2H, t, J=6 Hz, CH₂), 3.50 (2H, t, J=6 Hz, SCH₂),3.27 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.65 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 428.0 (M)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcdfor C₁₇H₁₈ClN₂O₃S₃ (MH⁺) 429.0168. Found 429.0159.

2-[6-(3-Chloro-2-methylbenzenesulphonylamino)-benzothiazol-2-ylsulfanyl]-N,N-diethylacetamide(STX755, XDS01145) and2-[6-(3-chloro-2-methyl-benzenesulphonylamino)-benzothiazol-2-yl]-N,N-diethylacetamide(STX763, XDS01145B)

To a suspension of AlCl₃ (50 mg) in DCM (5 ml) was added diethylamine(0.4 ml). The solution was stirred under nitrogen at room temperaturefor 10 minutes.[6-(3-Chloro-2-methyl-benzenesulphonylamino)-benzothiazol-2-ylsulfanyl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (STX752, 100 mg) was added and the mixture was keptstirring at room temperature for 30 minutes. The reaction was quenchedwith water, partitioned between DCM and 5% NaHCO₃. The organic phase waswashed with water, dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated in vacuo to give ayellow residue, which was purified with flash column chromatographyusing 20-30% ethyl acetate-DCM as eluting solvent. STX755 (50 mg, 47%)was obtained as white solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.60 (25%EtOAc/DCM); HPLC purity 89% (t_(R) 2.7 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR(270 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.7 (1H, s, SO₂NH), 7.86 (1H, d, J=8 Hz, 6′-H ofbenzene), 7.64-7.68 (3H, m, 4′-H of benzene and 4,7-H of benzothiazole),7.34 (1H, t, J=8 Hz, 5′-H of benzene), 7.12 (1H, dd, J=8, 2 Hz, 5-H ofbenzothiazole), 4.42 (2H, s, 2-SCH₂—), 3.26-3.38 (4H, m, —N(CH₂)₂—),2.50 (3H, s, 1′-CH₃), 1.17 (3H, t, J=7 Hz, —NCH₂CH₃), 1.00 (3H, t, J=7Hz, —NCH₂CH₃); APCI-MS 484.0 (M)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₂₀H₂₃ClN₃O₃S₃(MH⁺) 484.0590. Found 484.0584.

STX763 (25 mg, 25%) was obtained as white solid. TLC single spot atR_(f) 0.39 (25% EtOAc/DCM); LCMS purity 98% (t_(R) 6.9 min in 10%water-CH₃CN); ¹HNMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.8 (1H, s, SO₂NH), 7.88 (1H,dd, J=8.1, 1.2 Hz, 6′-H of benzene), 7.79 (1H, d, J=8.6 Hz, 4-H), 7.72(1H, d, J=2.0 Hz, 7-H), 7.68 (1H, dd, J=8.1, 1.2 Hz, 4′-H of benzene),7.35 (1H, t, J=8.1 Hz, 5′-H of benzene), 7.17 (1H, dd, J=8.6, 2 Hz, 5-Hof benzothiazole), 4.2 (2H, s, 2-SCH₂—), 3.26-3.38 (4H, m, —N(CH₂)₂—),2.65 (3H, s, CH₃), 1.10 (3H, t, J=7 Hz, —NCH₂ CH₃ ), 1.02 (3H, t, J=7Hz, —NCH₂ CH₃ ); APCI-MS 451.0 (M)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₂₀H₂₃ClN₃O₃S₂(MH⁺) 452.0869. Found 452.0870.

3-Chloro-N-benzothiazol-6-yl-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide (STX750,XDS01139)

Light pink needles (260 mg; 77%). TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.46 (17%EtOAc/DCM); HPLC purity 99% (t_(R) 2.5 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR(400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.9 (1H, s, SO₂NH), 9.25 (1H, s, 2-H ofbenzothiazole), 7.95 (1H, d, J=9 Hz, 4-H of benzothiazole), 7.92 (1H,dd, J=8.0, 1.0 Hz, 6′-H of benzene), 7.84 (1H, d, J=2 Hz, 7-H ofbenzothiazole), 7.70 (1H, dd, J=8.0, 1.0 Hz, 4′-H of benzene), 7.37 (1H,t, J=8 Hz, 5′-H of benzene), 7.25 (1H, dd, J=9.0, 2.0 Hz, 5-H ofbenzothiazole), 2.66 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 337.9 (M)'; FAB-HRMS calcdfor C₂₀H₂₃ClN₃O₃S₂ (MH⁺) 452.0869. Found 452.0870.

3-Chloro-N-(2-methylbenzothiazol-6-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX886, XDS01187B)

Off-white solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.65 (10% methanol/DCM); HPLCpurity>99% (t_(R) 2.4 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d₆) δ 10.7 (1H, s, NH), 7.87 (1H, dd, J=7.8, 1.9 Hz, ArH), 7.75(1H, d, J=8.8 Hz, ArH), 7.69 (1H, d, J=2.2 Hz, ArH), 7.68 (1H, dd,J=7.8, 1.9 Hz, ArH), 7.34 (1H, t, J=7.8 Hz, ArH), 7.15 (1H, dd, J=8.8,2.2 Hz, ArH), 2.71 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.63 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 351 (M−H)⁺;FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₅H₁₄ClN₂O₂S₂ (MH⁺) 353.0185. Found 353.0197.

N-(2-methylbenzothiazol-6-yl)-N-(3-chloro-2-methylphenylsulphonyl)-3-chloro-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX887, XDS01187A)

Off-white powder. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.89 (10% methanol/DCM); HPLCpurity 91% (t_(R) 3.1 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d6) δ 8.09 (1H, d, J=2.2 Hz, ArH), 7.92 (1H, d, J=8.6 Hz, ArH),7.85-7.90 (4H, m, ArH), 7.46 (2H, t, J=8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.35 (1H, dd,J=8.8, 2.2 Hz, ArH), 2.81 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.33 (6H, s, 2×CH₃); APCI-MS 539(M−H)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₂₂H¹⁹Cl₂N₂O₄S₃ (MH⁺) 540.9884. Found540.9897.

2,5-Dichloro-N-(2-methylbenzothiazol-6-yl)-benzenesulphonamide (STX888,XDS01188B)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.68 (10%methanol/DCM); HPLC purity>99% (t_(R) 2.3 min in 10% water-methanol);¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 10.9 (1H, s, NH), 7.98 (1H, d, J=2.3 Hz,ArH), 7.76 (1H, d, J=8.9 Hz, ArH), 7.74 (1H, d, J=2.3 Hz, ArH), 7.69(1H, dd, J=8.6, 2.3 Hz, ArH), 7.66 (1H, d, J=8.6 Hz, ArH), 7.18 (1H, dd,J=8.9, 2.3 Hz, ArH), 2.71 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 371 (M−H)⁺; FAB-HRMScalcd for C₁₄H₁₁Cl₂N₂O₂S₂ (MH⁺) 372.9639. Found 372.9651.

N-(2-Methylbenzothiazol-6-yl)-N-(2,5-dichlorophenylsulphonyl)-2,5-dichloro-benzenesulphonamide(STX889, XDS01188A)

Yellow solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.72 (10% methanol/DCM); HPLCpurity 94% (t_(R) 2.9 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d6) δ 8.13 (1H, d, J=2.2 Hz, ArH), 7.99 (2H, d, J=2.4 Hz, ArH),7.90-7.94 (3H, m, ArH), 7.77 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz, ArH), 7.29 (1H, dd, J.8.6, 2.2 Hz, ArH), 2.86 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 581 (M)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcdfor C₂₀H₁₃Cl₄N₂O₄S₃ (MH⁺) 580.8792. Found 580.8777.

N-(2-Methylbenzothiazol-6-yl)-4-propylbenzenesulphonamide (STX890,XDS01189)

Off-white solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.72 (10% methanol/DCM); HPLCpurity 99% (t_(R) 2.3 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d6) δ 10.3 (1H, s, NH), 7.67 (1H, d, J=8.7 Hz, ArH) 7.64 (1H, d,J=1.5 Hz, ArH), 7.59 (2H, d, J=7.7 Hz, ArH), 7.27 (2H, d, J=7.7 Hz,ArH), 7.09 (1H, dd, J=8.7, 1.5 Hz, ArH), 2.65 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.49 (2H, t,J=7.9 Hz, CH₂), 1.47 (2H, sextet, J=7.9 Hz, CH₂), 0.58 (3H, t, J=7.9 Hz,CH₃); APCI-MS 345 (M−H)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₇H₁₉N₂O₂S₂ (Mh⁺)347.0888. Found 347.0904.

3-Chloro-2-methyl-N-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-benzothiazol-6-yl)-benzenesulphonamide(STX753, XDS01143)

White crystalline solid (160 mg; 45%). TLC single spot at R, 0.42 (17%EtOAc/DCM); HPLC purity 98% (t_(R) 2.3 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR(400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 11.8 (1H, s, 3-NH), 10.5 (1H, s, SO₂NH), 7.81 (1H,dd, J=8, 1 Hz, 6′-H of benzene), 7.71 (1H, dd, J=8, 1 Hz, 4′-H ofbenzene), 7.36 (1H, t, J=8 Hz, 5′-H of benzene), 7.28 (1H, d, J=2 Hz,7-H of benzothiazole), 6.93-6.98 (2H, m, 4,5-H of benzothiazole), 2.63(3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 353.7 (M)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₄H₁₂ClN₂O₃S₂(MH⁺) 354.9978. Found 354.9980.

3-Chloro-N-methyl-N-(3-methyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-benzothiazol-6-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX831, XDS01163)

To a solution of STX753 (66 mg, 0.19 mmol) in acetone (3 mL) was addedpotassium carbonate (66 mg), followed by methyl iodide (66 mg). Themixture was stirred at rt for 2 h, extracted into DCM and washed withbrine. After drying over sodium sulphate, the solvent was removed invacuo to give an oily residue that was purified with flashchromatography. Off white solid (59 mg, 80%) was obtained. TLC singlespot at R_(f) 0.37 (100% DCM); HPLC purity 99% (t_(R) 2.0 min in 10%water-methanol); ¹HNMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 7.73-7.80 (2H, m, ArH), 7.61(1H, d, J=2.1 Hz, ArH), 7.42 (1H, t, J=8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.29 (1H, d, J=8.8Hz, ArH), 7.21 (1H, dd, J=8.1, 2.1 Hz, ArH), 3.38 (3H, s, CH₃), 3.32(3H, s, CH₃), 2.33 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 383 (MH)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd forC₁₆H₁₆ClN₂O₃S₂ (MH⁺) 383.0291. Found 383.0273.

[(3-Chloro-2-methylbenzenesulphonyl)-(3-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-benzothiazol-6-yl)-amino]-aceticacid ethyl ester (STX764, XDS01149)

To a solution of STX753 (20 mg, 0.056 mmol) in acetone (3 mL) was addedpotassium carbonate (20 mg), followed by methyl 2-bromoethyl acetate (50μl). The mixture was stirred at rt for 4 h, extracted into EtOAc andwashed with brine. After drying over sodium sulphate, the solvent wasremoved in vacuo to give an oily residue that was purified with flashchromatography. White crystalline solid (20 mg, 68%) was obtained. TLCsingle spot at R_(f) 0.51 (30% ethyl acetate/hexane); HPLC purity 98%(t_(R) 2.6 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ7.75-7.78 (2H, m, ArH), 7.70 (1H, d, J=2.3 Hz, ArH), 7.37 (1H, t, J=8.2Hz, ArH), 7.30 (1H, d, J=8.6 Hz, ArH), 7.24 (1H, dd, J=8.6, 2.3 Hz,ArH), 4.81 (2H, s, CH₂), 4.56 (2H, s, CH₂), 4.14 (2H, q, J=7.0 Hz, CH₂),4.06 (2H, q, J=7.0 Hz, CH₂), 2.44 (3H, s, CH₃), 1.19 (3H, t, J=7.0 Hz,CH₃), 1.13 (3H, t, J=7.0 Hz, CH₃); FAB-MS 527 (MH)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd forC₂₂H₂₄ClN₂O₇S₂ (MH⁺) 527.0713. Found 527.0694.

Synthesis of 2-chlorobenzothiazol-6-yl-amine and2-chloro-benzothiazol-5-yl-amine

To a solution of 2-chlorobenzothiazole (12.0 g, 70.7 mmol) inconcentrated H₂SO₄ (60 mL) was added HNO₃ (69% solution, 6 mL) dropwiseat 0° C. for 20 min. The mixture was stirred at 5° C. for 3 h, pouredinto ice-water (150 mL). The precipitate was collected and washed with5% sodium bicarbonate and water, dried in vacuo. ¹H NMR analysis showedthe mixture contained 78% 6-nitro-2-chlorobenzothiazole and 8%5-nitro-2-chlorobenzothiazole. Recrystallization from ethanol gave6-nitro-2-chlorobenzothiazole as white crystalline solid (11 g, 72%).3.5 g of the solid was dissolved in refluxing ethanol-acetic acid(150:15 mL), Iron powder was added in one portion. The mixture wasrefluxed for 1.5 h, filtered. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo tohalf volume and neutralized with 10% NaOH to pH 7.5, extracted withethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with brine, dried overmagnesium sulphate and evaporated to give a residue, which wasrecrystallized from ethanol. Light purple crystals (2.5 g, 83%) wereobtained. Mp 160-164° C.; TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.27 (30%EtOAc/hexane); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 7.58 (1H, d, J=9.0 Hz, 4-H),7.03 (1H, d, J=2.0 Hz, 7-H), 6.77 (1H, dd, J=9.0, 2.0 Hz, 5-H), 5.55(2H, s, NH₂). The mother liquor from the recrystallization of nitrationproduct was evaporated and subjected to iron powder reduction asdescribed above. The crude product was purified with flashchromatography (ethyl acetate-DCM gradient elution) to give2-chloro-benzothiazol-5-yl-amine as yellow solid. Mp 146-149° C.; TLCsingle spot at R_(f) 0.52 (10% EtOAc/DCM); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ7.63 (1H, d, J=8.6 Hz, 7-H), 7.05 (1H, d, J=2.3 Hz, 4-H), 6.78 (1H, dd,J=8.6, 2.3 Hz, 6-H), 5.40 (2H, s, NH₂).

The Following Compounds were Synthesized with the General Method forN-Benzothiazole Benzenesulphonamide:

N-(2-chlorobenzothiazol-6-yl)-N-(3-chloro-2-methylphenylsulphonyl)-3-chloro-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX767, XDS01151A)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.78 (33% EtOAc/DCM);HPLC purity 95% (t_(R) 6.4 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d6) δ 8.21 (1H, d, J=1.3 Hz, ArH), 8.00 (1H, d, J=8.8 Hz, ArH),7.83-7.90 (4H, m, ArH), 7.46 (2H, t, J=8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.37 (1H, dd,J=8.8, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 2.33 (6H, s, 2×CH₃); APCI-MS 560 (M)⁺; FAB-HRMScalcd for C₂₁H₁₆Cl₃N₂O₄S₃ (MH⁺) 560.9338. Found 560.9344.

3-Chloro-N-(2-chlorobenzothiazol-6-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX768, XDS01151B)

Off-white crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.68 (33%EtOAc/DCM); HPLC purity 99% (t_(R) 1.7 min in methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d6) δ 10.9 (1H, s, NH), 7.91 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz, ArH), 7.82 (1H, d,J=8.8 Hz, ArH), 7.80 (1H, d, J=3.1 Hz, ArH), 7.70 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz,ArH), 7.36 (1H, t, J=8.1 Hz, ArH), 7.23 (111, dd, J=8.8, 3.0 Hz, ArH),2.63 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 372 (M)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₄H₁₁Cl₂N₂O₂S₂(MH⁺) 372.9639. Found 372.9651.

3-Chloro-N-(2-chlorobenzothiazol-5-yl)-2-methylbenzene sulphonamide(STX834, XDS01168)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.52 (30%EtOAc/hexane); HPLC purity 99% (t_(R)1.7 min in methanol); ¹HNMR (270MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 10.9 (1H, s, NH), 7.91-7.96 (2H, m, ArH), 7.71 (1H, d,J=8.1 Hz, ArH), 7.58 (1H, d, J=2.2 Hz, ArH), 7.39 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz,ArH), 7.22 (1H, dd, J=8.1, 2.2 Hz, ArH), 2.64 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 371(M−H)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₄H₁₁Cl₂N₂O₂S₂ (MH⁺) 372.9639. Found372.9656.

3-Chloro-2-methyl-N-(2-methylaminobenzothiazol-6-yl)-benzenesulphonamide(STX833, XDS01167)

The solution of3-chloro-N-(2-chlorobenzothiazol-6-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX768, 150 mg, 0.40 mmol) in CH₃NH-THF (2M, 3 mL) was stirred at 82°C. in a sealed tube for 24 h, extracted with ethyl acetate. The organicphase was washed brine, dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated invacuo to give a residue that was purified with flash chromatography(ethyl acetate/DCM gradient elution). White crystals (100 mg, 68%) wereobtained. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.27 (30% EtOAc/DCM); HPLC purity 99%(t_(R) 1.8 min in 4% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 10.2(1H, s, NH), 7.82 (1H, q, J=4.8 Hz, NH), 7.72 (1H, d, J=7.7 Hz, ArH),7.61 (1H, d, J=7.7 Hz, ArH), 7.29 (1H, d, J=2.2 Hz, ArH), 7.26 (1H, t,J=8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.15 (1H, d, J=8.7 Hz, ArH), 6.79 (1H, dd, J=8.7, 2.2Hz, ArH), 2.80 (3H, d, J=4.8 Hz, NCH₃), 2.54 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 366(M−H)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₅H₁₅ClN₃O₂S₂ (MH⁺) 368.0294. Found368.0292.

3-Chloro-2-methyl-N-(2-methylaminobenzothiazol-5-yl)-benzenesulphonamide(STX835, XDS01176)

The compound was prepared as described for STX833 using3-chloro-N-(2-chlorobenzothiazol-5-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX834, 80 mg, 0.21 mmol) as starting material. White crystals (60 mg,78%) were obtained. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.25 (30% EtOAc/DCM); HPLCpurity 99% (t_(R) 2.3 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d₆) δ 10.5 (1H, s, NH), 7.96 (1H, q, J=4.7 Hz, NH), 7.86 (1H, d,J=8.1 Hz, ArH), 7.69 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz, ArH), 7.47 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz,ArH), 7.37 (1H, t, J=8.1 Hz, ArH), 7.05 (1H, d, J=1.9 Hz, ArH), 6.73(1H, dd, J=8.0, 1.9 Hz, ArH), 2.88 (3H, d, J=4.7 Hz, NCH₃), 2.64 (3H, s,CH₃); APCI-MS 368 (MH)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₅H₁₅ClN₃O₂S₂ (MH⁺)368.0294. Found 368.0292.

3-Chloro-N-(2-diethylaminobenzothiazol-5-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX836, XDS01177)

The compound was prepared as described for STX833 using3-chloro-N-(2-chlorobenzothiazol-5-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX834, 70 mg, 0.18 mmol) and diethylamine-THF (3 mL) as startingmaterial. White crystals (50 mg, 68%) were obtained. TLC single spot atR_(f) 0.60 (30% EtOAc/DCM); HPLC purity 97% (t_(R) 3.0 min in 10%water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 10.5 (1H, s, NH), 7.85 (1H,d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.68 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.52 (1H, d, J=8.4 Hz,ArH), 7.36 (1H, t, J=8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.06 (1H, d, J=2.2 Hz, ArH), 6.75(1H, dd, J=8.3, 2.2 Hz, ArH), 3.45 (4H, q, J=7.0 Hz, N(CH₂)₂), 2.63 (3H,s, CH₃), 1.15 (6H, t, J=7.0 Hz, 2×CH₃); APCI-MS 410 (MH)⁺; FAB-HRMScalcd for C₁₈H₂₁ClN₃O₂S₂ (MH⁺) 410.0764. Found 410.0753.

3-Chloro-N-(2-diethylaminobenzothiazol-6-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX878, XDS01164)

The compound was prepared as described for STX833 using3-chloro-N-(2-chlorobenzothiazol-6-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX768, 240 mg, 0.64 mmol) and diethylamine-IPA (3 mL) as startingmaterial. Off-white crystalline solid (128 mg, 49%) were obtained. TLCsingle spot at R_(f) 0.33 (30% EtOAc/hexane); HPLC purity 96% (t_(R) 2.2min in 4% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 7.56-7.62 (3H, m,ArH), 7.18-7.27 (2H, m, ArH), 7.00 (1H, dd, J=8.5, 1.7 Hz, ArH), 5.52(1H, s, NH), 3.54 (4H, q, J=7.0 Hz, N(CH₂)₂), 2.25 (3H, s, CH₃), 1.22(6H, t, J=7.0 Hz, 2×CH₃); APCI-MS 409 (M)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd forC₁₈H₂₁ClN₃O₂S₂ (MH⁺) 410.0764. Found 410.0698.

Synthesis of 2,6-Dimethylbenzothiazol-7-ylamine

To a solution of 2,6-dimethylbenzothiazol (350 mg, 2.15 mmol) in Conc.H₂SO₄ (4 mL) was added HNO₃ (69%, 0.3 mmol) at 0° C. After stirred at 0°C. for 0.5 h, the mixture was poured over ice-water. The precipitate wascollected and washed with 5% sodium bicarbonate and water,recrystallized from ethanol to give 7-nitro-2,6-dimethylbenzothiazol asyellow solid (160 mg). The product (150 mg) was hydrogenated over 5%Pd/C in ethanol-THF (10:2 mL) at atmosphere pressure to give2,6-dimethyl-benzothiazol-7-ylamine as yellow solid (120 mg). TLC singlespot at R_(f) 0.55 (10% EtOAc/DCM); ¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.07 (2H,s, ArH), 5.23 (2H, s, NH₂), 2.73 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.20 (3H, s, CH₃).

Synthesis of 6-Methoxy-2-methylbenzothiazol-7-ylamine

The compound was prepared as described above starting from6-methoxy-2-methylbenzothiazol. Yellow solid was obtained. mp 117-119°C. (lit. 121-122° C.); TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.55 (40% EtOAc/DCM); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.14 (1H, d, J=8.7 Hz, ArH), 7.05 (1H, d, J=8.7Hz, ArH), 5.10 (2H, broad, NH₂), 3.83 (3H, s, OCH₃), 2.71 (3H, s, CH₃).

-   (Friedman, S. G. J Gen Chem USSR 31, 1961, 3162-3167)

Synthesis of 2,5-Dimethylbenzothiazol-4-ylamine and 2,5-Dimethylbenzothiazol-6-ylamine

To a solution of 2,5-dimethylbenzothiazol (1.63 g, 10 mmol) in Conc.H₂SO₄ (12 mL) was added HNO₃ (69%, 1 mmol) at −5° C. After stirred at−5-0° C. for 2 h, the mixture was poured over ice-water (150 mL). Theprecipitate was collected and washed with 5% sodium bicarbonate, waterand 70% ethanol. The product (1.98 g) was a mixture of4-nitro-2,5-dimethylbenzothiazol and 6-nitro-2,5-dimethylbenzothiazol in1:1 ratio judged by NMR. The product (998 mg) was hydrogenated over 5%Pd/C (600 mg) in ethanol-THF (50:20 mL) at atmosphere pressure to give ayellow solid (880 mg). Separation with flash chromatography (EtOAc/DCMgradient elution) yielded 2,5-dimethylbenzothiazol-4-ylamine as yellowcrystals (400 mg). TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.60 (15% EtOAc/DCM); ¹H NMR(270 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.05 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz, ArH), 6.99 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz,ArH), 5.26 (2H, s, NH₂), 2.74 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.18 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS177 (M−H)⁺.

2,5-Dimethylbenzothiazol-6-ylamine was obtained as yellow solid (320mg). TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.55 (15% EtOAc/DCM); ¹H NMR (270 MHz,DMSO): δ 7.47 (1H, s, ArH), 7.05 (1H, s, ArH), 5.05 (2H, s, NH₂), 2.65(3H, s, CH₃), 2.16 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 177 (M−H)⁺.

Synthesis of 4-chloro-2-methylbenzothiazol-5-ylamine and4,6-dichloro-2-methylbenzothiazol-5-ylamine

To a solution of 5-amino-2-methylbenzothiazole (818 mg, 4.99 mmol) inisopropanol (12 mL) was added N-chlorosuccinimide (732 mg, 5.48 mmol).The mixture was stirred at 60° C. for 15 min., partitioned between DCMand 5% sodium bicarbonate. The organic phase was washed with brine,dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated in vacuo to give a residuethat was purified with flash chromatography (EtOAc/DCM gradientelution). 4-Chloro-2-methylbenzothiazol-5-ylamine was obtained asoff-white crystalline solid (510 mg, 51%). mp 121-122° C. (lit. 124°C.); TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.51 (20% EtOAc/DCM); ¹H NMR (270 MHz,DMSO): δ 7.61 (1H, d, J=8.6 Hz, ArH), 6.91 (1H, d, J=8.6 Hz, ArH), 5.49(2H, s, NH₂), 2.75 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 199 (MH)⁺.

4,6-Dichloro-2-methylbenzothiazol-5-ylamine was obtained as yellow solid(60 mg, 5%). TLC single spot at R, 0.57 (20% EtOAc/DCM); ¹H NMR (270MHz, DMSO): δ 7.89 (1H, s, ArH), 5.26 (2H, s, NH₂), 2.77 (3H, s, CH₃);APCI-MS 233 (MH)⁺.

The Following Compounds were Synthesized with the General Method forN-Benzothiazole Benzenesulphonamide.

3-Chloro-N-(6-methoxy-2-methylbenzothiazol-7-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX989, XDS02038)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R^(f) 0.71 (30% EtOAc/DCM);HPLC purity 99% (t_(R) 2.3 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d6) δ 10.1 (1H, s, NH), 7.76 (1H, d, J=8.9 Hz, ArH), 7.72 (1H, d,J=8.2 Hz, ArH), 7.53 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz, ArH), 7.23 (1H, t, J=8.2 Hz,ArH), 7.05 (1H, d, J=8.9 Hz, ArH), 3.29 (3H, s, OCH₃), 2.74 (3H, s,CH₃), 2.70 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 381 (M−H)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd forC₁₆H₁₆ClN₂O₃S₂ (MH⁺) 383.0291. Found 383.0284.

3-Chloro-N-(2,6-dimethyl-benzothiazol-7-yl)-2-methyl-benzenesulphonamide(STX1021, XDS02069)

Off-white crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.49 (10%EtOAc/DCM); HPLC purity 98% (t_(R) 2.0 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹HNMR(270 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 10.3 (1H, s, NH), 7.78 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.74(1H, d, J=8.4 Hz, ArH), 7.64 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.34 (1H, t, J=7.9Hz, ArH), 7.30 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 2.68 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.61 (3H, s,CH₃), 2.03 (3H, s, CH₃); FAB-MS 367 (MH)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd forC₁₆H₁₆ClN₂O₂S₂ (MH⁺) 367.0342. Found 367.0347.

3-Chloro-N-(2,5-dimethyl-benzothiazol-4-yl)-2-methyl-benzenesulphonamide(STX996, XDS02047)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.76 (10% EtOAc/DCM);HPLC purity>99% (t_(R) 2.9 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d6) δ 9.98 (1H, s, NH), 7.81 (1H, d, J=8.3 Hz, ArH), 7.64 (1H, d,J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.45 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.31 (1H, d, J=8.3 Hz,ArH), 7.12 (1H, t, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 2.73 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.47 (3H, s, CH₃),2.44 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 367 (MH)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₆H₁₆ClN₂O₂S₂(MH⁺) 367.0342. Found 367.0342.

N-(2,5-dimethylbenzothiazol-6-yl)-N-(3-chloro-2-methylphenylsulphonyl)-3-chloro-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX997, XDS02048A)

Off-white syrup. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.78 (10% EtOAc/DCM); HPLCpurity 85% (t_(R) 4.2 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹H NMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d6) δ 8.06 (1H, s, ArH), 7.86-7.95 (5H, m, ArH), 7.68 (1H, s, ArH),7.52 (2H, t, J=8.2 Hz, ArH), 2.83 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.29 (6H, s, 2×CH₃),2.05 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 555 (MH)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₂₃H₂₁Cl₂N₂O₄S₃(MH⁺) 555.0040. Found 555.0041.

3-Chloro-N-(2,5-di methyl benzothiazol-6-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX998, XDS0204813)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.39 (10% EtOAc/DCM);HPLC purity 96% (t_(R) 2.1 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d6) δ 10.0 (1H, s, NH), 7.74 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.70 (1H, s,ArH), 7.67 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.63 (1H, s, ArH), 7.33 (1H, t, J=7.9Hz, ArH), 2.75 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.60 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.13 (3H, s, CH₃);APCI-MS 367 (MH)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₆H₁₆ClN₂O₂S₂ (MH⁺) 367.0342.Found 367.0350.

2,5-Dichloro-N-(2,5-dimethylbenzothiazol-6-yl)-benzenesulphonamide(STX999, XDS02049)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.43 (10% EtOAc/DCM);HPLC purity 98% (t_(R) 2.0 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d6) δ 10.3 (1H, s, NH), 7.76 (3H, s, ArH), 7.72 (1H, s, ArH), 7.67(1H, s, ArH), 2.75 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.23 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 387 (MH)⁺;FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₅H₁₃Cl₂N₂O₂S₂ (MH⁺) 386.9795. Found 386.9806.

N-(4-Chloro-2-methyl-benzothiazol-5-yl)-N-(3-chloro-2-methylphenylsulphonyl)-3-chloro-2-methyl-benzenesulphonamide(STX991, XDS02042A)

White powder. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.75 (8% EtOAc/DCM); HPLCpurity>99% (t_(R) 4.4 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d6) δ 8.19 (1H, d, J=8.7 Hz, ArH), 7.93 (4H, d, J=8.2 Hz, ArH),7.59 (1H, d, J=8.7 Hz, ArH), 7.50 (2H, d, J=8.2 Hz, ArH), 2.85 (3H, s,CH₃), 2.41 (6H, s, 2×CH₃); APCI-MS 575 (MH)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd forC₂₂H₁₈Cl₃N₂O₄S₃ (MH⁺) 574.9494. Found 574.9492.

3-Chloro-N-(4-chloro-2-methylbenzothiazol-5-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX992, XDS02042B)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f): 0.69 (8% EtOAc/DCM);HPLC purity 99% (t_(R) 2.5 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d6) δ 10.5 (1H, s, NH), 7.96 (1H, d, J=8.7 Hz, ArH), 7.73 (1H, d,J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.64 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.30 (1H, d, J=8.7 Hz,ArH), 7.29 (1H, t, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 2.79 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.70 (3H, s, CH₃);APCI-MS 385 (M−H)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₅H₁₃Cl₂N₂O₂S₂ (MH⁺) 386.9795.Found 386.9790.

2,5-Dichloro-N-(4-chloro-2-methylbenzothiazol-5-yl)-benzenesulphonamide(STX993, XDS02043B)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.71 (8% EtOAc/DCM);HPLC purity 99% (t_(R) 5.0 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d6) δ 10.7 (1H, s, NH), 7.97 (1H, d, J=8.6 Hz, ArH), 7.71-7.78 (3H,m, ArH), 7.28 (1H, d, J=8.6 Hz, ArH), 2.81 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 407(MH)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₄H₁₀Cl₃N₂O₂S₂ (MH⁺) 406.9249. Found406.9234.

N-(4-Chloro-2-methylbenzothiazol-5-yl)-4-propylbenzenesulphonamide(STX994, XDS02044B)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.70 (8% EtOAc/DCM);HPLC purity 99% (t_(R) 2.7 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,DMSO-d6) δ 10.1 (1H, s, NH), 7.93 (1H, d, J=8.6 Hz, ArH), 7.60 (2H, d,J=8.2 Hz, ArH), 7.35 (2H, d, J=8.2 Hz, ArH), 7.28 (1H, d, J=8.4 Hz,ArH), 2.79 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.69 (2H, t, J=7.2 Hz, CH₂), 1.59 (2H, m, CH₂),0.86 (3H, t, J=7.2 Hz, CH₃); APCI-MS 381 (MH)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd forC₁₇H₁₈ClN₂O₂S₂ (MH⁺) 381.0498. Found 381.0484.

N-(4-Chloro-2-methylbenzothiazol-5-yl)-N-(4-propylphenylsulphonyl)-4-propylbenzenesulphonamide(STX995, XDS02044A)

White powder. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.70 (8% EtOAc/DCM); HPLC purity99% (t_(R) 3.8 min in 10% water-methanol); NMR (270 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 8.10(1H, d, J=8.4 Hz, ArH), 7.74 (4H, d, J=8.1 Hz, ArH), 7.50 (4H, d, J=8.1Hz, ArH), 7.08 (1H, d, J=8.4 Hz, ArH), 2.91 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.71 (4H, t,J=7.1 Hz, 2×CH₂), 1.59 (4H, m, CH₂), 0.86 (6H, t, J=7.1 Hz, 2×CH₃);APCI-MS 561 (M−H)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₂₆H₂₈ClN₂O₄S₃ (MH⁺) 563.0900.Found 563.0886.

Synthesis of3-Chloro-2-methyl-N-(2-methyl-benzothiazol-5-ylmethyl)-benzenesulphonamide(STX1029, XDS02070A) and3-Chloro-2-methyl-N,N-bis-(2-methyl-benzothiazol-5-ylmethyl)-benzenesulphonamide(STX1030, XDS02070B)

To a solution of 3-chloro-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide (103 mg, 0.5 mmol)in CH₃CN was added potassium carbonate (100 mg), followed5-bromomethyl-2-methylbenzothiazole (121 mg, 0.5 mmol). The mixture wasrefluxed under N₂ for 6 h, partitioned between ethyl acetate and water.The organic phase was washed brine, dried over sodium sulphate andconcentrated in vacuo to give a yellow residue, which was separated withflash chromatography (ethyl acetate/DCM, gradient elution). STX1029 wasobtained as white solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.55 (10% EtOAc/DCM);HPLC purity>99% (t_(R) 2.0 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz,CDCl₃) δ 7.89 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.66 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.65(1H, d, J=1.3 Hz, ArH), 7.49 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.17 (1H, t, J=7.9Hz, ArH), 7.13 (1H, dd, J=7.9, 1.5 Hz, ArH), 5.35 (1H, t, J=5.9 Hz, NH),4.24 (2H, d, J=5.9 Hz, CH₂), 2.79 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.62 (3H, s, CH₃);APCI-MS 367 (MH)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₆H₁₆ClN₂O₂S₂ (MH⁺) 367.0342.Found 367.0330.

STX1030 was obtained as white solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.50 (10%EtOAc/DCM); HPLC purity 99% (t_(R) 6.1 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹HNMR(270 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 7.87 (3H, d, J=8.1 Hz, ArH), 7.75 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz,ArH), 7.59 (2H, broad w_(1/2)=1.1 Hz, ArH), 7.38 (1H, t, J=8.0 Hz, ArH),7.11 (2H, dd, J=8.1, 1.1 Hz, ArH), 4.56 (4H, s, 2×NCH₂), 2.78 (6H, s,2×CH₃), 2.58 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 528 (MH)⁺; FAB-HRMS calcd forC₂₅H₂₃ClN₃O₂S₃ (MH⁺) 528.0641. Found 528.0630.

Synthesis of N-Indole or N-Indolin Arysulfonamide Derivatives

General Method for Synthesis N-Indole or N-Indoline ArylsulphonamideDerivatives (STX832, STX981-982, STX984, STX986-987, STX1018-1020):

To a solution arylsulphonyl chloride (1.1 eq.) in DCM were addedpyridine (2.2 eq.) and catalytic amount of DMAP, followed by thecorresponding amine (1 eq.). The reaction mixture was stirred at rtunder nitrogen for 4-6 h, then partitioned between ethyl acetate and 5%sodium bicarbonate after TLC showed completion of the reaction. Theorganic layer was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulphate, andconcentrated in vacuo to give crude product as solid or thick syrup. Thecompound was then purified by flash chromatography (methanol-DCMgradient elution) to give desired arylsulphonamide as crystalline solid.Yield ranges from 50-85%.

3-Chloro-2-methyl-N-(2-methyl-1H-indol-5-yl)-benzenesulphonamide(STX832, XDS01165)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.68 (30% ethylacetate/hexane); HPLC purity>99% (t_(R) 1.8 min in 4% water-methanol);¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.9 (1H, s, NH), 9.98 (1H, s, NH), 7.72 (1H,d, J=8 Hz, ArH), 7.63 (1H, d, J=8 Hz, ArH), 7.27 (1H, t, J=8 Hz, ArH),7.07 (1H, d, J=8 Hz, ArH), 7.05 (1H, d, J=2 Hz, ArH), 6.67 (1H, dd, J=8,2 Hz, ArH), 5.99 (1H, s, 3-H), 2.60 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.29 (3H, s, CH₃);APCI-MS 334 (M⁺); FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₆H₁₆ClN₂O₂S (MH⁺) 335.0621. Found335.0609

3-Chloro-2-methyl-N-(1H-indol-5-yl)-benzenesulphonamide (STX981,XDS02019)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.72 (6%methanol/DCM); HPLC purity 98% (t_(R) 2.1 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 11.1 (1H, s, NH), 10.1 (1H, s, NH), 7.76 (1H, d,J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.66 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.22-7.32 (4H, m, ArH),6.81 (1H, dd, J=7.9, 1.2 Hz, ArH), 6.33 (1H, broad, 3-H), 2.64 (3H, s,CH₃); APCI-MS 319 (M-W); FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₅H₁₄ClN₂O₂S (MH⁺)321.0465. Found 321.0453.

3-Chloro-2-methyl-N-(1H-indol-6-yl)-benzenesulphonamide (STX982,XDS02020)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.88 (10%methanol/DCM); HPLC purity 98% (t_(R) 2.5 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 11.0 (1H, s, NH), 10.3 (1H, s, NH), 7.80 (1H, d,J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.67 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.31-7.38 (2H, m, ArH),7.26 (1H, m, ArH), 7.80 (1H, d, J=1.2 Hz, ArH), 6.75 (1H, dd, J=7.9, 1.2Hz, ArH), 6.31 (1H, broad, 3-H), 2.65 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 319 (M-W);FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₅H₁₄ClN₂O₂S (MH⁺) 321.0465. Found 321.0446.

5-(3-Chloro-2-methylbenzenesulfonylamino)-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acidethyl ester (STX986, XDS02030)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.82 (8%methanol/DCM); HPLC purity>99% (t_(R) 2.3 min in 10% water-methanol);NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 11.9 (1H, s, NH), 10.3 (1H, s, NH), 7.78 (1H, d,J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.67 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.28-7.33 (3H, m, ArH),7.06 (1H, d, J=2.2 Hz, ArH), 7.00 (1H, dd, J=8.2, 2.2 Hz, ArH), 4.32(2H, q, J=6.9 Hz, OCH₂), 2.63 (3H, s, CH₃), 1.31 (3H, t, J=6.9 Hz, CH₃);APCI-MS 391 (M−H⁺); FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₈H₁₈ClN₂O₄S (MH⁺) 393.0676.Found 393.0659

3-Chloro-2-methyl-N-(2,3-dimethyl-1H-indol-5-yl)-benzenesulphonamide(STX1018, XDS02061)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.83 (30% ethylacetate/hexane); HPLC purity 97% (t_(R) 2.9 min in 20% water-methanol);¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.6 (1H, s, NH), 10.0 (1H, s, NH), 7.74 (1H,d, J=7.5 Hz, ArH), 7.65 (1H, d, J=7.5 Hz, ArH), 7.29 (1H, t, J=8.0 Hz,ArH), 7.05 (1H, d, J=8.6 Hz, ArH), 6.99 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz, ArH), 6.66(1H, dd, J=8.6, 1.7 Hz, ArH), 2.62 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.25 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.03(3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 349 (MH⁺); FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₇H₁₈ClN₂O₂S (MH⁺)349.0778. Found 349.0737.

2,5-Dichloro-N-(2,3-dimethyl-1H-indol-5-yl)-benzenesulphonamide(STX1019, XDS02062)

White amorphous powder. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.82 (10% ethylacetate/hexane); HPLC purity 98% (t_(R) 3.0 min in 20% water-methanol);¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.7 (1H, s, NH), 10.2 (1H, s, NH), 7.80 (1H,m, ArH), 7.67-7.70 (2H, m, ArH), 7.07 (1H, d, J=8.5 Hz, ArH), 7.05 (1H,d, J=1.7 Hz, ArH), 6.73 (1H, dd, J=8.5, 1.7 Hz, ArH), 2.25 (3H, s, CH₃),2.04 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 367 (M−H⁺); FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₆H₁₄Cl₂N₂O₂S(M⁺) 368.0153. Found 368.0146

4-n-Propyl-N-(2,3-di methyl-1H-indol-5-yl)-benzenesulphonamide (STX1020,XDS02063)

Off-white crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.82 (10% ethylacetate/hexane); HPLC purity 97% (t_(R) 2.9 min in 20% water-methanol);¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.6 (1H, s, NH), 9.6 (1H, s, NH), 7.56 (2H,d, J=8.3 Hz, ArH), 7.30 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz, ArH), 7.03 (1H, d, J=8.3 Hz,ArH), 6.95 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz, ArH), 6.68 (1H, dd, J=8.3, 1.7 Hz, ArH),2.56 (2H, t, J=7.3 Hz, CH₂), 2.24 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.01 (3H, s, CH₃), 1.55(2H, sextet, J=7.3 Hz, CH₂), 0.85 (3H, t, J=7.3 Hz, CH₃),; APCI-MS 343(MH⁺); FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₉H₂₂N₂O₂S (M⁺) 342.1402. Found 342.1403

3-Chloro-2-methyl-N-(1-acetyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-5-yl)-benzenesulphonamide(STX984, XDS02025)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.58 (5%methanol/DCM); HPLC purity 95 C/0 (t_(R) 2.2 min in 20% water-methanol);¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.4 (1H, s, NH), 7.80-7.86 (2H, m, ArH), 7.71(1H, d, J=7.8 Hz, ArH), 7.36 (1H, t, J=8.0 Hz, ArH), 6.93 (1H, d, J=1.8Hz, ArH), 6.83 (1H, dd, J=8.2, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 4.01 (2H, t, J=8.3 Hz,CH₂), 3.03 (2H, t, J=8.4 Hz, CH₂), 2.62 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.09 (3H, s, CH₃);APCI-MS 363 (M-W); FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₇H₁₈ClN₂O₃S (MH⁺) 365.0727.Found 365.0796.

5-(3-Chloro-2-methyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-1-thyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indoliumchloride (STX987, XDS02031)

The free base of STX987 was synthesized as above. A purple amorphouspowder was obtained; TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.79 (8% methanol/DCM); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.79 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.53 (1H, d, J=7.9Hz, ArH), 7.15 (1H, t, J=8.0 Hz, ArH), 6.75 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz, ArH), 6.58(1H, dd, J=8.1, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 6.35 (1H, s, NH), 6.22 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz,ArH), 3.30 (2H, t, J=8.4 Hz, CH₂), 3.05 (2H, q, J=7.2 Hz, CH₂), 2.84(2H, t, J. 8.3 Hz, CH₂), 2.67 (3H, s, CH₃), 1.11 (3H, t, J=7.2 Hz, CH₃).The free base was treated with HCl-ether solution to give STX987 aslight pink crystalline solid. HPLC purity 93% (t_(R) 3.6 min in 20%water-methanol); ¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.3 (1H, s, NH), 7.82 (1H,d, J=8.1 Hz, ArH), 7.72 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz, ArH), 7.38 (1H, t, J=8.1 Hz,ArH), 6.79-6.89 (3H, m, broad, ArH), 3.42 (2H, t, J=8.4 Hz, CH₂), 3.16(2H, q, J=7.0 Hz, CH₂), 2.91 (2H, t, J=8.4 Hz, CH₂), 2.62 (3H, s, CH₃),1.10 (3H, t, J=7.0 Hz, CH₃); APCI-MS 349 (M-HCl—H⁺); FAB-HRMS calcd forC₁₇H₂₀ClN₂O₂S (M-HCl+H⁺) 351.0934. Found 351.0941.

1-Acetyl-5-aminoindoline

The solution of 1-acetyl-5-nitroindoline (1.0 g, 4.85 mmol) inethanol-THF (100 mL:30 mL) was hydrogenated over 5% Pd/C (600 mg) atatmosphere pressure for 2 h, filtered through Celite and concentrated invacuo to give a white solid which was recrystalllized from ethanol.White crystalline solid (580 mg, 68%) was obtained. Mp 185-186.5° C.(lit 184-185° C., [21]); ¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.73 (1H, d, J=8.6Hz, ArH), 6.45 (1H, s broad, w½=1.8 Hz, ArH), 6.33 (1H, dd, J=8.6, 1.8Hz, ArH), 4.82 (2H, s, NH₂), 3.97 (2H, t, J=8.4 Hz, CH₂), 2.99 (2H, t,J=8.4 Hz, CH₂), 2.07 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 175 (M−H⁴).

1-Ethyl-5-aminoindoline

To a suspension of 1-acetyl-5-aminoindoline (130 mg, 0.74 mmol) inanhydrous THF (10 mL) was added LiAlH₄ (42 mg, 1.11 mmol). The mixturewas stirred at rt for 6 h, quenched with saturated NH₄Cl and extractedwith ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with brine, dried oversodium sulphate and concentrated in vacuo to give a purple residue (80mg, 67%) that was used without further purification. ¹H NMR (270 MHz,DMSO): δ 6.56 (1H, s, ArH), 6.47 (1H, d broad, J=8.1 Hz, ArH), 6.37 (1H,d, J=8.0 Hz, ArH), 3.29 (2H, s, NH₂), 3.20 (2H, t, J=7.6 Hz, CH₂), 3.02(2H, q, J=6.9 Hz, CH₂), 2.86 (2H, t, J=7.6 Hz, CH₂), 1.17 (3H, t, J=6.9Hz, CH₃).

Synthesis of5-(3-chloro-2-methyl-benzenesulfonamido)-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acidmethyl ester, STX 1050 (KRB01132)

5-amino-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester (KRB01131): To asolution of 5-nitro-1 H-indole-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester (206 mg,0.940 mmol) in methanol (40 mL) was added 5% palladium on carbon (40 mg)and the mixture was stirred under 1 atm H₂ for 5 h. The mixture wasfiltered through celite and the filtrate evaporated to yield a brownsolid that was used without further purification (173 mg, 97%), singlespot at R_(f) 0.64 (ethyl acetate). ¹H NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ 11.50 (1H, s,N—H), 7.83 (1H, d, J=3.2 Hz), 7.17 (1H, d, J=2.0 Hz), 7.14 (1H, d, J=8.4Hz), 6.56 (1H, dd, J=8.6, 2.2 Hz), 4.77 (2H, s, N—H₂), 3.76 (3H, s).

To a solution of 3-chloro-2-methylbenzenesulphonyl chloride (124 mg,0.552 mmol) in dichloromethane (4 mL) was added pyridine (100 μL, 1.3mmol) and the mixture was stirred under N₂ for 5 min, after which time5-amino-1H-indole-carboxylic acid methyl ester (100 mg, 0.526 mmol) wasadded. The resulting mixture was stirred for 1.5 h at room temperature,then saturated NaHCO₃ solution (15 mL) was added and the mixture wasextracted into ethyl acetate (20 mL). The organic phase was washed withbrine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated to give a residue thatwas purified using flash chromatography to afford a white solid (129 mg,65%), single spot at R, 0.84 (ethyl acetate). mp 216.8-219.3° C., [22],HPLC purity 99+% (t_(R) 2.07 min in 10% water-acetonitrile). ¹H NMR(d₆-DMSO): δ 11.91 (1H, s), 10.32 (1H, s), 8.03 (1H, d, J=3.0 Hz), 7.82(1H, d, J=7.9 Hz), 7.70-7.67 (2H, m), 7.37-7.31 (2H, m), 6.95 (1H, dd,J=8.6, 2.0 Hz), 3.77 (3H, s), 2.65 (3H, s). LCMS: 377.09. FAB-MS (MH+,C₁₇H₁₅ClN₂O₄S): calcd 378.0441. Found 378.0439.

Synthesis of Benzimidazol Arylsulphonamide Derivatives

Preparation of 1-Alkyl-5-amino-2-methylbenzimidazole and1-alkyl-6-amino-2-methylbenzimidazole

To a solution of 5-nitrobenzimidazole (1.0 g, 5.6 mmol) in acetone (50mL) was added potassium carbonate (1.0 g), followed by alkyl halide(1.2-1.5 equivalents). The mixture was stirred under nitrogen at rt,then partitioned between ethyl acetate and water after TLC showedcompletion of the reaction. The organic phase was washed with brine,dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated in vacuo to give a mixtureof 1-alkyl-5-nitro-2-methylbenzimidazole and1-alkyl-6-nitro-2-methylbenzimidazole, which were dissolved inethanol-THF (100 mL, 2:1) and hydrogenated over 5% Pd—C under atmospherepressure for 8 h. After filtration through Celite®, the filtrate wasevaporated to give a yellow solid that was separated with flashchromatography (Methanol-DCM gradient elution).1-Alkyl-5-aminobenzimidazole and 1-alkyl-6-aminobenzimidazole wereobtained as yellow solid or thick syrup.

5-Amino-1,2-dimethylbenzimidazole (XDS01191B, XDS02082B)

Yellow solid, mp 126-127° C. (lit. 128° C., [23]). TLC single spot atR_(f) 0.30 (5% methanol/DCM); ¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ7.08 (1H, d,J=8.7 Hz, 7-H), 7.65 (1H, d, J=1.5 Hz, 4-H), 6.50 (1H, dd, J=8.7, 1.5Hz, 6-H), 4.63 (2H, broad, NH₂), 3.58 (3H, s, NCH₃), 2.39 (3H, s, CH₃).

6-Amino-1,2-dimethylbenzimidazole (XDS01191A, XDS02082A)

Yellow solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.33 (5% methanol/DCM); ¹H NMR(270 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.13 (1H, d, J=8.4 Hz, 4-H), 6.48 (1H, d, J=2.0 Hz,7-H), 6.43 (1H, dd, J=8.4, 2.0 Hz, 5-H), 4.83 (2H, broad, NH₂), 3.53(3H, s, NCH₃), 2.39 (3H, s, CH₃).

5-Amino-1-ethyl-2-methylbenzimidazole (XDS02079B)

Yellow syrup. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.27 (5% methanol/DCM); ¹H NMR(270 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.12 (1H, d, J=8.3 Hz, 7-H), 6.68 (1H, d, J=2.0 Hz,4-H), 6.51 (1H, dd, J=8.3, 2.0 Hz, 6-H), 4.68 (2H, broad, NH₂), 4.08(2H, q, J=7.2 Hz, NCH₂), 2.43 (3H, s, CH₃), 1.24 (3H, t, J=7.2 Hz, CH₃);APCI-MS 175 (M⁺).

6-Amino-1-ethyl-2-methylbenzimidazole (XDS02079A)

Yellow solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.30 (5% methanol/DCM); ¹H NMR(270 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.16 (1H, d, J=8.4 Hz, 4-H), 6.68 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz,7-H), 6.46 (1H, dd, J=8.4, 1.7 Hz, 5-H), 4.85 (2H, broad, NH₂), 4.02(2H, q, J=7.9 Hz, NCH₂), 2.42 (3H, s, CH₃), 1.24 (3H, t, J=7.9 Hz, CH₃);APCI-MS 175 (M⁺).

5-Amino-1-i-butyl-2-methylbenzimidazole (XDS02093B)

Yellow syrup. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.42 (10% methanol/DCM); ¹H NMR(400 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.08 (1H, d, J=8.5 Hz, 7-H), 6.65 (1H, d, J=1.9 Hz,4-H), 6.48 (1H, dd, J=8.5, 1.9 Hz, 6-H), 4.63 (2H, broad, NH₂), 3.82(2H, d, J=7.4 Hz, NCH₂), 2.41 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.07 (1H, m, CH), 0.84 (6H,d, J=7.0 Hz, 2×CH₃); APCI-MS 204 (MH⁺)

6-Amino-1-i-butyl-2-methylbenzimidazole (XDS02093A)

Yellow solid. TLC single spot at A, 0.45 (10% methanol/DCM); ¹H NMR (270MHz, DMSO): δ 7.15 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz, 4-H), 6.62 (1H, d, J=1.6 Hz, 7-H),6.44 (1H, dd, J=8.2, 1.8 Hz, 5-H), 4.83 (2H, broad, NH₂), 3.79 (2H, d,J=7.7 Hz, NCH₂), 2.41 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.10 (1H, m, CH), 0.87 (6H, d, J=6.6Hz, 2×CH₃); APCI-MS 204 (MH⁺)

(5-Aminobenzoimidazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester (XDS02012B)

Yellow solid. TLC single spot at R, 0.36 (5% methanol/DCM); ¹H NMR (270MHz, DMSO): δ 7.08 (1H, d, J=8.4 Hz, 7-H), 6.69 (1H, d, J=2.2 Hz, 4-H),6.49 (1H, dd, J=8.4, 2.2 Hz, 6-H), 5.02 (2H, s, NCH₂), 4.68 (2H, s,NH₂), 4.16 (2H, q, J=7.2 Hz, CH₂), 2.36 (3H, s, CH₃), 1.21 (3H, t, J=7.2Hz, CH₃); APCI-MS 234 (MH⁺).

(6-Aminobenzoimidazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester (XDS02012A)

Yellow solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.40 (5% methanol/DCM); ¹H NMR(270 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.17 (1H, d, J=9.0 Hz, 4-H), 6.45-6.48 (2H, m, 5 and7-H), 4.95 (2H, s, NCH₂), 4.87 (2H, s, NH₂), 4.17 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz,CH₂), 2.36 (3H, s, CH₃), 1.22 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz, CH₃); APCI-MS 234 (MH⁺).

5-Amino-1-benzyl-2-methylbenzimidazole (XDS02086B)

Yellow syrup. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.27 (5% methanol/DCM); ¹H NMR(400 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.26-7.32 (2H, m, ArH), 7.23 (1H, tt, J=7.5, 2.3 Hz,ArH), 7.05-7.09 (3H, m, ArH), 6.69 (1H, d, J=2.3 Hz, 4-H), 6.46 (1H, dd,J=8.2, 2.3 Hz, 6-H), 5.30 (2H, s, CH₂), 4.68 (2H, broad, NH₂), 2.40 (3H,s, CH₃); APCI-MS 238 (MH⁺).

6-Amino-1-benzyl-2-methylbenzimidazole (XDS02086A)

Yellow solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.30 (5% methanol/DCM); ¹H NMR(400 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.28-7.32 (2H, m, ArH), 7.23 (1H, tt, J=7.5, 2.3 Hz,ArH), 7.17 (1H, d, J=8.2, Hz, ArH), 7.06 (2H, m ArH), 6.43-6.46 (2H, m,ArH), 5.26 (2H, s, CH₂), 4.63 (2H, s, NH₂), 2.40 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS238 (MH⁺).

Preparation of 5-amino-4-chloro-1,2-dimethylbenzimidazole (XDS02096A)

To a solution of 5-amino-1,2-dimethylbenzimidazole (600 mg, 3.73 mmol)in IPA (15 mL) was added N-chlorosuccinimide (548 mg, 4.10 mmol). Themixture was stirred at rt for 20 min, diluted with DCM (80 mL) andwashed with 5% sodium bicarbonate and brine. The dark brown solution wasdried over sodium sulphate and concentrated in vacuo to give a brownresidue, which was subjected to flash chromatography (methanol-DCMgradient elution). Yellow solid (220 mg, 33%) was obtained. TLC singlespot at R_(f) 0.69 (10% methanol/DCM); ¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.16(1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 6.72 (1H, d, J=7.9, Hz, ArH), 4.90 (2H, s, NH₂),3.64 (3H, s, NCH₃), 2.40 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 196 (MH⁺)

General Method for Synthesis of N-Benzimidazole ArylsulphonamideDerivatives:

To a solution arylsulphonyl chloride (1.1 eq.) in DCM were addedpyridine (2.2 eq.) and catalytic amount of DMAP, followed by thecorresponding amine (1 eq.). The reaction mixture was stirred at rtunder nitrogen for 4-16 h, then partitioned between ethyl acetate and 5%sodium bicarbonate after TLC showed completion of the reaction. Theorganic layer was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulphate, andconcentrated in vacuo to give crude product as solid or thick syrup. Thecompound was then purified by flash chromatography (Methanol-DCMgradient elution) to give desired arylsulphonamide as crystalline solid.Yield ranges from 50-80%.

3-Chloro-N-(1,2-dimethyl-1H-benzoimidazol-6-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX975, XDS02001)

White crystalline solid. Mp 265-266° C.; TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.43(5% methanol/DCM); HPLC purity>99% (t_(R) 2. min in 10% water-methanol);¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.4 (1H, s, NH), 7.84 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH),7.67 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.34 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz, ArH), 7.32 (1H, t,J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.14 (1H, d, J=2 Hz, ArH), 6.80 (1H, dd, J=8.2, 2.0 Hz,ArH), 3.61 (3H, s, NCH₃), 2.64 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.46 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS348 (M−H⁺); FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₆H₁₇ClN₃O₂S (MH⁺) 350.0730. Found350.0749.

3-Chloro-N-(1,2-dimethyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX976, XDS02003)

White crystalline solid. Mp 283-283.5° C.; TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.38(5% methanol/DCM); HPLC purity>99% (t_(R) 2.0 min in 10%water-methanol); ¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.3 (1H, s, NH), 7.77 (1H,d, J=7.6 Hz, ArH), 7.66 (1H, d, J=7.6 Hz, ArH), 7.32 (1H, d, J=8.4 Hz,ArH), 7.30 (1H, t, J=7.6 Hz, ArH), 7.16 (1H, d, J=2 Hz, ArH), 6.90 (1H,dd, J=8.4, 2.0 Hz, ArH), 3.64 (3H, s, NCH₃), 2.64 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.44(3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 348 (M−H⁺); FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₆H₁₇ClN₃O₂S (MH⁺)350.0730. Found 350.0747.

3-Chloro-N-(4-chloro-1,2-dimethyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX1121, XDS02102B)

Off-white crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.50 (10%methanol/DCM); HPLC purity 95% (t_(R) 2.1 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.1 (1H, s, NH), 7.70 (1H, dd, J=7.7, 1.7 Hz,ArH), 7.56 (1H, dd, J=7.8, 1.7 Hz, ArH), 7.39 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz, ArH),7.25 (1H, t, J=7.7 Hz, ArH), 7.04 (1H, d, J. 8.2 Hz, ArH), 3.69 (3H, s,NCH₃), 2.67 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.51 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 384 (MH⁺).

N-(1,2-Dimethyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-yl)-4-propylbenzenesulphonamide(STX1112, XDS02088)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.38 (5%methanol/DCM); HPLC purity>99% (t_(R) 2.1 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 9.90 (1H, s, NH), 7.58 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz, ArH),7.29-7.32 (3H, m, ArH), 7.17 (1H, d, J. 1.5 Hz, ArH), 6.91 (1H, dd,J=8.6, 2.0 Hz, ArH), 3.64 (3H, s, NCH₃), 2.55 (2H, m, CH₂), 2.50 (3H, s,CH₃), 1.55 (2H, sextet, J=7.6 Hz, CH₂), 0.84 (3H, t, J=7.6 Hz, CH₃);APCI-MS 344 (MH⁺).

2,5-Dichloro-N-(1,2-dimethyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-yl)-benzenesulphonamide(STX1113, XDS02089)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.67 (10%methanol/DCM); HPLC purity 99% (t_(R) 2.0 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.5 (1H, s, NH), 7.84 (1H, t, J=1.4 Hz, ArH),7.68 (2H, d, J=2.0 Hz, ArH), 7.35 (1H, d, J=8.5 Hz, ArH), 7.21 (1H, d,J=2.0 Hz, ArH), 6.97 (1H, dd, J=8.2, 2.0 Hz, ArH), 3.64 (3H, s, NCH₃),2.45 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 370 (MH⁺).

2,4-Dichloro-N-(1,2-dimethyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-yl)-benzenesulphonamide(STX1114, XDS02090)

Off-white crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R, 0.59 (10%methanol/DCM); HPLC purity>99% (t_(R) 2.0 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.4 (1H, s, NH), 7.88 (1H, d, J=8.7 Hz, ArH),7.84 (2H, d, J=1.9 Hz, ArH), 7.52 (1H, dd, J=8.7, 1.9 Hz, ArH), 7.33(1H, d, J=8.5 Hz, ArH), 7.20 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz, ArH), 6.95 (1H, dd,J=8.7, 1.7 Hz, ArH), 3.63 (3H, s, NCH₃), 2.45 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 370(MH⁺).

4-Bromo-N-(1,2-dimethyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX1115, XDS02091)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R, 0.67 (10% methanol/DCM);HPLC purity>99% (t_(R) 2.1 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹H NMR (270 MHz,DMSO): δ 10.1 (1H, s, NH), 7.62-7.69 (2H, m, ArH), 7.50 (1H, dd, J=8.5,2.2 Hz, ArH), 7.32 (1H, d, J=8.5 Hz, ArH), 7.14 (1H, d, J=1.9 Hz, ArH),6.89 (1H, dd, J=8.5, 1.9 Hz, ArH), 3.63 (3H, s, NCH₃), 2.55 (3H, s,CH₃), 2.45 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 394 (MH⁺).

N-(1,2-Dimethyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-yl)-4-phenylbenzenesulphonamide(STX1116, XDS02092)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.72 (5%methanol/DCM); HPLC purity>99% (t_(R) 2.1 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.0 (1H, s, NH), 7.67-7.82 (6H, m, ArH),7.41-7.50 (3H, m, ArH), 7.33 (1H, d, J=8.5 Hz, ArH), 7.22 (1H, d, J=1.9Hz, ArH), 6.95 (1H, dd, J=8.5, 1.9 Hz, ArH), 3.64 (3H, s, NCH₃), 2.44(3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 378 (MH⁺).

3-Chloro-N-(1-ethyl-2-methyl-1H-benzoimidazol-6-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide (STX1110, XDS02084)

Off-white solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.45 (8% methanol/DCM); HPLCpurity>99% (T_(R) 2.2 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹H NMR (270 MHz,DMSO): δ 10.4 (1H, s, NH), 7.84 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.67 (1H, d,J=7.8 Hz, ArH), 7.35 (1H, d, J=8.5 Hz, ArH), 7.32 (1H, t, J=7.9 Hz,ArH), 7.10 (1′-1, d, J=2.2 Hz, ArH), 6.82 (1H, dd, J=8.5, 2.1 Hz, ArH),4.09 (2H, q, =7.1 Hz, CH₂), 2.61 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.46 (3H, s, CH₃), 1.18(3H, t, J=7.1 Hz, CH₃); APCI-MS 364 (MH⁺).

3-Chloro-N-(1-ethyl-2-methyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX1111, XDS02085)

Off-white solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.42 (8% methanol/DCM); HPLCpurity>99% (t_(R) 2.2 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹H NMR (270 MHz,DMSO): δ 10.3 (1H, s, NH), 7.78 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.66 (1H, d,J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.36 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz, ArH), 7.32 (1H, t, J=7.9 Hz,ArH), 7.16 (1H, d, J=1.9 Hz, ArH), 6.90 (1H, dd, J=7.9, 2.0 Hz, ArH),4.12 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz, CH₂), 2.64 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.46 (3H, s, CH₃), 1.23(3H, t, J=7.1 Hz, CH₃); APCI-MS 364 (MH⁺).

3-Chloro-N-(1-isobutyl-2-methyl-1H-benzoimidazol-6-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX1119, XDS02100)

Off-white solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.57 (8% methanol/DCM); HPLCpurity 99% (t_(R) 2.2 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹H NMR (270 MHz,DMSO): δ 10.4 (1H, s, NH), 7.80 (1H, d, J=8.9 Hz, ArH), 7.66 (1H, d,J=8.8 Hz, ArH), 7.36 (1H, d, J=8.5 Hz, ArH), 7.29 (1H, t, J=7.9 Hz,ArH), 7.03 (1H, d, J=1.9 Hz, ArH), 6.84 (1H, dd, J=8.5, 1.8 Hz, ArH),3.85 (2H, d, J=7.2 Hz, NCH₂), 2.61 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.45 (3H, s, CH₃), 1.91(1H, m, CH), 0.81 (6H, d, J=7.0 Hz, 2×CH₃); APCI-MS 392 (MH⁺).

3-Chloro-N-(1-isobutyl-2-methyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX1120, XDS02101)

Off-white solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.52 (8% methanol/DCM); HPLCpurity 99% (t_(R) 2.3 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹H NMR (270 MHz,DMSO): δ 10.3 (1H, s, NH), 7.80 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.68 (1H, d,J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.38 (1H, d, J=8.8 Hz, ArH), 7.33 (1H, t, J=7.9 Hz,ArH), 7.16 (1H, d, J=1.9 Hz, ArH), 6.90 (1H, dd, J=8.7, 1.9 Hz, ArH),3.91 (2H, d, J=7.3 Hz, NCH₂), 2.62 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.47 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.05(1H, m, CH), 0.83 (6H, d, J=7.0 Hz, 2×CH₃); APCI-MS 392 (MH⁺).

[6-(3-Chloro-2-methylbenzenesulphonylamino)-2-methylbenzoimidazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (STX977, XDS02015)

Off-white solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.46 (6% methanol/DCM); HPLCpurity>99% (t_(R) 2.0 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹H NMR (270 MHz,DMSO): δ 10.4 (1H, s, NH), 7.82 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.67 (1H, d,J=8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.37 (1H, d, J=8.5 Hz, ArH), 7.30 (1H, t, J=8.0 Hz,ArH), 7.11 (1H, d, J=2.0 Hz, ArH), 6.83 (1H, dd, J=8.5, 2.0 Hz, ArH),5.09 (2H, s, NCH₂), 4.16 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz, CH₂), 2.62 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.45(3H, s, CH₃), 1.21 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz, CH₃); APCI-MS 420 (M-W); FAB-HRMScalcd for C₁₉H₂₁ClN₃O₄S (MH⁺) 422.0941. Found 422.0942.

[5-(3-Chloro-2-methylbenzenesulphonylamino)-2-methylbenzoimidazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (STX978, XDS02017)

Off-white solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.40 (6% methanol/DCM); HPLCpurity 99% (t_(R) 2.0 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹H NMR (270 MHz,DMSO): δ 10.3 (1H, s, NH), 7.80 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.67 (1H, d,J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.29-7.34 (2H, m, ArH), 7.18 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz, ArH),6.90 (1H, dd, J=8.6, 1.7 Hz, ArH), 5.11 (2H, s, NCH₂), 4.15 (2H, q,J=7.1 Hz, CH₂), 2.64 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.40 (3H, s, CH₃), 1.19 (3H, t, J=7.1Hz, CH₃); APCI-MS 420 (M-W); FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₉H₂₁ClN₃O₄S (MH⁺)422.0941. Found 422.0944.

3-Chloro-N-(1-benzyl-2-methyl-1H-benzoimidazol-6-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX1117, XDS02098)

Off-white solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.70 (10% methanol/DCM); HPLCpurity 99% (t_(R) 2.2 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹H NMR (270 MHz,DMSO): δ 10.4 (1H, s, NH), 7.66 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.64 (1H, d,J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.30-7.39 (4H, m, ArH), 7.21 (1H, t, J=7.9 Hz, ArH),7.11 (1H, d, J=2.0 Hz, ArH), 7.02-7.06 (2H, m, ArH), 6.83 (1H, dd,J=7.9, 2.0 Hz, ArH), 5.34 (2H, s, NCH₂), 2.58 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.45 (3H, s,CH₃); APCI-MS 426 (MH⁺).

3-Chloro-N-(1-benzyl-2-methyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX1118, XDS02099)

Off-white solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.65 (10% methanol/DCM); HPLCpurity 99% (t_(R) 2.2 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹H NMR (270 MHz,DMSO): δ 10.3 (1H, s, NH), 7.80 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.67 (1H, d,J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.25-7.35 (5H, m, ArH), 7.19 (1H, d, J=1.9 Hz, ArH),7.06-7.09 (2H, m, ArH), 6.87 (1H, dd, J=8.5, 1.9 Hz, ArH), 5.38 (2H, s,NCH₂), 2.62 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.45 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 426 (MH⁺).

3-Chloro-N-(2-trifluoromethyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX879, XDS01173)

White crystalline solid. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.58 (20% ethylacetate/DCM); HPLC purity 99% (t_(R) 2.4 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 13.9 (1H, s, NH), 10.7 (1H, s, NH), 7.85 (1H, d,J=8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.68 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.60 (1H, d broad, J=8.1Hz, ArH), 7.34 (2H, m, ArH), 7.10 (1H, d, J=8.3 Hz, ArH), 2.64 (3H, s,CH₃); APCI-MS 388 (M-W); FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₅H₁₂ClF₃N₃O₂S (MH⁺)390.0291. Found 390.0291.

Preparation of3-chloro-N-(2-methyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-yl)-2-methylbenzenesulphonamide(STX985, XDS02026)

The coupling reaction of 3-chloro-2-methylbenzenesulphonyl chloride (2eq.) with 2-methylbenzimidazole (1 eq.) under the condition describedabove yielded a mixture of3-chloro-N-[1-(3-chloro-2-methylbenzenesulphonyl)-2-methyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-yl]-2-methyl-benzenesulphonamideand3-chloro-N-[1-(3-chloro-2-methylbenzenesulphonyl)-2-methyl-1H-benzoimidazol-6-yl]-2-methyl-benzenesulphonamidein 1:1 ratio as judged by HNMR. ¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.7 (2H, s,2×NH), 7.86-7.96 (3H, m, ArH), 7.65-7.78 (5H, m, ArH), 7.52-7.58 (5H, m,ArH), 7.25-7.40 (3H, m, ArH), 7.07 (2H, t, J=8.2 Hz, ArH), 2.61 (3H, s,CH₃), 2.58 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.54 (6H, s, 2×CH₃), 2.39 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.33(3H, s, CH₃). The mixture (200 mg) was dissolved in THF (15 mL),N-hydroxybenzotriazole (200 mg) was added. After stirred at rt for 48 h,the mixture was partitioned between ethyl acetate and 5% sodiumbicarbonate. The organic phase was washed with brine, dried over sodiumsulphate and concentrate in vacuo to give a yellow residue, which waspurified with flash chromatography (methanol/DCM gradient elution). Offwhite amorphous powder was obtained. TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.38 (10%methanol/DCM); HPLC purity 99% (t_(R) 2.0 min in 10% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 12.1 (1H, s, NH), 10.3 (1H, s, NH), 7.78 (1H, d,J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.68 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.29-7.35 (2H, m, ArH),7.12 (1H, s, ArH), 6.83 (1H, dd, J=8.4, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 2.63 (3H, s, CH₃),2.41 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 334 (M-W); FAB-HRMS calcd for C₁₅H₅ClN₃O₂S(MH⁺) 336.0573. Found 336.0583.

Synthesis of N-Benzimidazole Arylsulphonamide Derivatives

N¹-Phenyl-benzene-1,2,4-triamine

To a solution of 2,4-dinitrophenylamine (1.5 g, 5.8 mmol) in ethanol-THF(150:50 mL) were added hydrazine hydrate (2 mL, 65 mmol) and RaneyNickel (2.0 g). The reaction mixture was stirred at rt for 20 min,filtered through Celite. Evaporation of the solvent gave a blackresidue, which was purified by flash chromatography (methanol-DCMgradient elution). A black crystalline solid (1.0 g, 87%) was obtained.Mp 128-129° C.; TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.46 (8% methanol/DCM); ¹H NMR(270 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.25 (2H, t, J=7.5 Hz, ArH), 6.73 (1H, s, NH), 6.61(1H, d, J=8.3 Hz, ArH), 6.49-6.55 (3H, m, ArH), 5.99 (1H, d, J=2.5 Hz,ArH), 5.83 (1H, dd, J=8.2, 2.5 Hz, ArH), 4.66 (2H, s, NH₂), 4.44 (2H, s,NH₂); APCI-MS 198 (M−H⁺).

N-(2-Methyl-1-phenyl-1H-benzimidazol-5-yl)-acetamide

N¹-Phenyl-benzene-1,2,4-triamine (800 mg, 4 mmol) was dissolved inacetic acid (10 mL), acetic anhydride (1.0 mL) was added to thesolution. The mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 6 h, cooled to it andneutralized with 5% sodium carbonate, then extracted with ethyl acetate.The organic phase was washed with brine, dried over magnesium sulphateand concentrated to give a residue, which was crystallized from ethanol.A brown crystalline solid (0.85 g, 80%) was obtained. Mp 231-232° C.;TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.39 (10% methanol/DCM); ¹H NMR (270 MHz,DMSO): δ 9.92 (1H, s, NH), 7.97 (1H, d, J=1.6 Hz, ArH), 7.51-7.67 (5H,m, ArH), 7.31 (1H, dd, J=8.3, 1.9 Hz, ArH), 7.04 (1H, d, J=8.3 Hz, ArH),2.41 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.05 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 264 (M−H⁺).

2-Methyl-1-phenyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-ylamine

The solution of N-(2-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-benzimidazol-5-yl)-acetamide(800 mg, 3 mmol) in 6N HCl (5 mL) was stirred at 75° C. for 3 h, cooledto rt and neutralized with sodium carbonate to pH 7, then extracted withethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with brine, dried overmagnesium sulphate and concentrated to give a dark brown solid (600 mg,90%). Mp 145-146° C.; TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.47 (10% methanol/DCM);¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.58-7.64 (2H, m, ArH), 7.46-7.53 (3H, m,ArH), 6.82 (1H, d, J=8.5 Hz, ArH), 6.76 (1H, d, J=1.9 Hz, ArH), 6.51(1H, dd, J=8.5, 1.9 Hz, ArH), 4.78 (2H, s, NH₂), 2.36 (3H, s, CH₃);APCI-MS 223 (M⁴).

3-Chloro-2-methyl-N-(2-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-yl)-benzenesulphonamide(STX1140, XDS02110)

The compound was prepared with general method of benzenesulphonamideformation. Light pink crystalline solid was obtained. Mp 254-256° C.;TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.62 (8% methanol/DCM); HPLC purity>99% (t_(R)2.6 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.4 (1H, s,NH), 7.83 (1H, dd, J=8.6, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 7.69 (1H, dd, J=8.6, 1.7 Hz,ArH), 7.58-7.63 (5H, m, ArH), 7.34 (1H, t, J. 8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.28 (1H, d,J. 1.9 Hz, ArH), 6.90-7.00 (2H, m, ArH), 2.66 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.36 (3H, s,CH₃); APCI-MS 412 (MH⁺).

3-Chloro-N-[1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methyl-1H-benzoimidazol-6-yl]-2-methyl-benzenesulfonamide(STX1141, XDS02115)

To a solution of[6-(3-Chloro-2-methyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-2-methyl-benzoimidazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (100 mg, 0.237 mmol) in anhydrous THF (10 mL) was addedLiAlH₄ (54 mg, 1.42 mmol) at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for0.5 h, quenched with saturated ammonium chloride solution, neutralizedwith 6N HCl and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase waswashed with brine, dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated in vacuoto give a light pink crystalline solid (82 mg, 91%). Mp 213-214.5° C.;TLC single spot at R, 0.39 (12% methanol/DCM); HPLC purity>99% (t_(R)2.0 min in 20% water-methanol); NMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.4 (1H, s, NH),7.84 (1H, d, J=7.7 Hz, ArH), 7.67 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz, ArH), 7.28-7.35 (2H,m, ArH), 7.15 (1H, d, J=1.9 Hz, ArH), 6.80 (1H, dd, J=8.5, 1.9 Hz, ArH),4.94 (1H, t, J=5.2 Hz, OH), 4.10 (2H, t, J=5.0 Hz, NCH₂), 3.59 (2H, q,J=5.2 Hz, CH₂), 2.51 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.47 (3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 380 (MH⁺).

3-Chloro-N-[1-(2-hydroxy-thyl)-2-methyl-1H-benzoimidazol-5-yl]-2-methyl-benzenesulfonamide(STX1142, XDS02116)

The compound was prepared as above from[5-(3-Chloro-2-methyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-2-methyl-benzoimidazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (35 mg, 0.083 mmol). White crystalline solid (22 mg,89%) was obtained. Mp 245-247° C.; TLC single spot at R_(f) 0.38 (12%methanol/DCM); HPLC purity>99% (t_(R) 2.0 min in 20% water-methanol); ¹HNMR (270 MHz, DMSO): δ 10.3 (1H, s, NH), 7.79 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz, ArH),7.67 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.29-7.35 (2H, m, ArH), 7.16 (1H, s, ArH),6.89 (1H, d, J=8.5, ArH), 4.90 (1H, t, J . 5.0 Hz, OH), 4.14 (2H, t,J=5.0 Hz, NCH₂), 3.63 (2H, q, J=5.2 Hz, CH₂), 2.65 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.48(3H, s, CH₃); APCI-MS 380 (MH⁺).

Synthesis of Benzoxazole Derivatives

Synthesis of3-chloro-2-methyl-N-(2-methyl-benzooxazol-6-yl)-benzenesulfonamide, STX839 (KRB01009)

To a solution of 3-chloro-2-methylbenzenesulphonyl chloride (163 mg,0.723 mmol) in dichloromethane (3 mL) was added pyridine (140 μL, 1.72mmol) and the mixture was stirred under N₂ for 5 min, after which time6-amino-2-methylbenzoxazole (102 mg, 0.688 mmol) was added. Theresulting mixture was stirred for 1 h at room temperature, thensaturated NaHCO₃ solution was added (8 mL) and the mixture was extractedinto ethyl acetate (15 mL). The organic phase was washed with brine,dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated to give a residue that waspurified using flash chromatography to afford a white solid (151 mg,65%), single spot at R_(f) 0.50 (60:40 hexane:ethyl acetate). mp127.1-127.5° C., HPLC purity 97% (t_(R) 2.05 min in 10%water-acetonitrile). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.85 (1H, dd, J=8.1, 1.1 Hz),7.53 (1H, dd, J=8.1, 1.3 Hz), 7.45 (1H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.27 (1H, d, J=2.2Hz), 7.17 (1H, t, J=7.9 Hz), 6.93 (1H, s, N—H), 6.86 (1H, dd, J=8.4, 2.2Hz), 2.71 (3H, s), 2.58 (3H, s). LCMS: 335.14 (M−). FAB-MS (MH+,C₁₅H₁₃ClN₂O₃S): calcd 337.0413. Found 337.0406.

Synthesis of N-(2-methyl-benzooxazol-6-yl)-4-propyl-benzenesulfonamide,STX 840 (KRB01010)

To a solution of 4n-propylbenzenesulphonyl chloride (163 mg, 0.744 mmol)in dichloromethane (3 mL) was added pyridine (140 μL, 1.72 mmol) and themixture was stirred under N₂ for 5 min, after which time6-amino-2-methylbenzoxazole (105 mg, 0.709 mmol) was added. Theresulting mixture was stirred for 1 h at room temperature, thensaturated NaHCO₃ solution was added (8 mL) and the mixture was extractedinto ethyl acetate (15 mL). The organic phase was washed with brine,dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated to give a residue that waspurified using flash chromatography to afford a pale pink solid (164 mg,70%), single spot at R_(f) 0.49 (60:40 hexane:ethyl acetate). mp101.7-102.3° C., HPLC purity 99% (t_(R) 2.02 min in 10%water-acetonitrile). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.61 (2H, m), 7.43 (1H, d, J=8.4Hz), 7.37 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz), 7.19 (2H, m), 6.83 (2H, m), 2.57 (5H, m),1.58 (2H, sextet, J=7.3 Hz), 0.88 (3H, t, J=7.3 Hz). LCMS: 329.21 (M−).FAB-MS (MH+, C₁₇H₁₈N₂O₃S): calcd 331.1116. Found 331.1107.

Synthesis of2,5-dichloro-(2-methyl-benzooxazol-6-yl)-benzenesulfonamide, STX 841(KRB01011)

To a solution of 2,5-dichlorobenzenesulphonyl chloride (174 mg, 0.709mmol) in dichloromethane (3 mL) was added pyridine (140 μL, 1.72 mmol)and the mixture was stirred under N₂ for 5 min, after which time6-amino-2-methylbenzoxazole (100 mg, 0.675 mmol) was added. Theresulting mixture was stirred for 1 h at room temperature, thensaturated NaHCO₃ solution was added (8 mL) and the mixture was extractedinto ethyl acetate (15 mL). The organic phase was washed with brine,dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated to give a residue that waspurified using flash chromatography to afford a white solid (154 mg,64%), single spot at R_(f) 0.50 (60:40 hexane:ethyl acetate). mp167.0-167.3° C., HPLC purity 97% (t_(R)1.97 min in 10%water-acetonitrile). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.93 (1H, d, J=2.3 Hz), 7.47 (1H,d, J=8.6 Hz), 7.46-7.40 (4H, m), 7.00 (1H, dd, J=8.6, 2.0 Hz), 2.61 (3H,s). LCMS: 355.07 (M−). FAB-MS (MH+, C₁₄H₁₀Cl₂N₂O₃S): calcd 356.9867.Found 356.9875.

Synthesis of3-chloro-2-methyl-N-(2-methyl-benzooxazol-5-yl)-benzenesulfonamide, STX842 (KRB01014)

To a solution of 3-chloro-2-methylbenzenesulphonyl chloride (96 mg, 0.43mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) was added pyridine (80 μL, 1.0 mmol) andthe mixture was stirred under N₂ for 5 min, after which time5-amino-2-methylbenzoxazole (60 mg, 0.40 mmol) was added. The resultingmixture was stirred for 1 h at room temperature, then saturated NaHCO₃solution was added (8 mL) and the mixture was extracted into ethylacetate (15 mL). The organic phase was washed with brine, dried(Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated to give a residue that was purifiedusing flash chromatography to afford a white solid (89 mg, 64%), singlespot at R_(f) 0.52 (1:1 hexane:ethyl acetate). mp 180.2-180.5° C., HPLCpurity 99% (t_(R) 2.32 min in 10% water-acetonitrile). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ7.82 (1H, dd, J=8.1, 1.1 Hz), 7.52 (1H, dd, J=7.7, 1.1 Hz), 7.32 (1H, d,J=8.4 Hz), 7.25 (1H, d, J-2.9 Hz (overlap with CHCl₃)), 7.14 (1H, t,J=8.1 Hz), 6.99 (1H, dd, J=8.4, 2.2 Hz), 6.67 (1H, s, N—H), 2.71 (3H,s), 2.58 (3H, s). LCMS: 335.01 (M−). FAB-MS (MH+, C₁₅H₁₃ClN₂O₃S): calcd337.0413. Found 337.0420.

Synthesis of N-(2-methyl-benzooxazol-5-yl)-4-propyl-benzenesulfonamide,STX 843 (KRB01015):

To a solution of 4n-propylbenzenesulphonyl chloride (93 mg, 0.43 mmol)in dichloromethane (2 mL) was added pyridine (80 μL, 1.0 mmol) and themixture was stirred under N₂ for 5 min, after which time5-amino-2-methylbenzoxazole (60 mg, 0.40 mmol) was added. The resultingmixture was stirred for 1 h at room temperature, then saturated NaHCO₃solution was added (8 mL) and the mixture was extracted into ethylacetate (15 mL). The organic phase was washed with brine, dried(Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated to give a residue that was purifiedusing flash chromatography to afford a pale pink oil (112 mg, 85%),single spot at R_(f) 0.53 (1:1 hexane:ethyl acetate). HPLC purity 99+%(t_(R) 2.38 min in 10% water-acetonitrile) ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.64 (2H,dt, J=8.1, 1.8 Hz), 7.31 (2H, m), 7.18 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.06 (1H, dd,J=8.6, 2.4 Hz), 2.59 (5H, m), 1.58 (2H, sextet, J=7.3 Hz), 0.89 (3H, t,J=7.3 Hz). LCMS: 329.15 (M−). FAB-MS (MH+, C₁₇H₁₈N₂O₃S): calcd 331.1116.Found 331.1118.

Synthesis of2,5-dichloro-N-(2-methyl-benzooxazol-5-yl)-benzenesulfonamide, STX 846(KRB01016)

To a solution of 2,5-dichlorobenzenesulphonyl chloride (52 mg, 0.21mmol) in dichloromethane (1.5 mL) was added pyridine (40 μL, 0.5 mmol)and the mixture was stirred under N₂ for 5 min, after which time5-amino-2-methylbenzoxazole (30 mg, 0.20 mmol) was added. The resultingmixture was stirred for 1 h at room temperature, then saturated NaHCO₃solution was added (8 mL) and the mixture was extracted into ethylacetate (15 mL). The organic phase was washed with brine, dried(Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated to give a residue that was purifiedusing flash chromatography to afford a pale pink solid (45 mg, 63%),single spot at R_(f) 0.53 (1:1 hexane:ethyl acetate). mp 193.5-193.9°C., HPLC purity 98% (t_(R) 2.27 min in 10% water-acetonitrile). ¹H NMR(CDCl₃): δ 7.86 (1H, d, J=2.2 Hz), 7.39 (4H, m), 7.12 (1H, dd, J=8.4,1.8 Hz), 2.58 (3H, s). LCMS: 355.07 (M−). FAB-MS (MH⁺, C₁₄H₁₀Cl₂N₂O₃S):calcd 356.9867. Found 356.9878.

All publications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporatedby reference. Various modifications and variations of the describedmethods and system of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.Although the invention has been described in connection with specificembodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimedshould not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed,various modifications of the described modes for carrying out theinvention which are obvious to those skilled in chemistry or relatedfields are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

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1-38. (canceled)
 39. A compound having Formula I

wherein one of R₁ and R₂ is a group of the formula

wherein R₄ is selected from H and hydrocarbyl, R₅ is a hydrocarbyl groupand L is an optional linker group, or R₁ and R₂ together form a ringsubstituted with the group

wherein R₃ is H or a substituent and wherein X is selected from S, O,NR₆ and C(R₇)(R₈), wherein R₆ is selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups,wherein each of R₇ and R₈ are independently selected from H andhydrocarbyl groups.